Auburn College of Education alumna among elite educators chosen for zero-gravity flight

For Megan Tucker, a 2004 Auburn University College of Education graduate, the classroom has never had limits. This spring, she took that belief to a whole new level—35,000 feet above Earth, to be exact.

Tucker, who serves as the dean of curriculum and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) specialist at Hillsboro Charter Academy in Virginia, was one of just eight educators nationwide selected for the prestigious Space for Teachers Embedded Teacher Program. As part of the program, she recently participated in a microgravity flight aboard the Zero-G aircraft, conducting student-designed experiments in a weightless environment.

“The opportunity to participate in a microgravity flight was an absolute pinnacle of my career as an educator,” Tucker said. “The flight itself, aboard the Zero-G plane, was nothing short of breathtaking. The parabolas we flew looked like a giant roller coaster trajectory, but the sensation of weightlessness was utterly unique, like a switch turning off gravity. Flying like a superhero and doing flips were definitely highlights!” 

But the flight was more than just a personal milestone. It was also the culmination of months of global collaboration between Tucker’s students and peers in Nigeria and Spain. One experiment developed in partnership with the companies Aqua Dragons, Goliath Games and World Alive, explored how brine shrimp (otherwise known as Aqua Dragons) behave in microgravity.

“We were incredibly excited to witness how these arthropods would react in a microgravity environment,” Tucker said. “My students made numerous predictions, ranging from the Aqua Dragons doing 'cartwheels' to simply floating without noticing a difference. During the flight, we observed that the water adhered to the container walls, creating a large air bubble in the center. The Aqua Dragons followed the water flow, swimming vertically along the walls – a stark contrast to their mainly horizontal movement on Earth.”

Another experiment involved paper helicopters, a collaborative project with students in Nigeria and inspired by NASA’s Mars Ingenuity Helicopter. 

“On the Zero-G flight, most of the helicopters simply floated, while a few with parachutes appeared to drift upwards,” she said. “Notably, one helicopter designed to convert potential to kinetic energy upon release actually spun and moved away from me in the microgravity.”

The data collected will be shared with the scientific community, and a mini-documentary is in the works to showcase the project’s impact. The Aqua Dragons that flew are now back at Hillsboro Charter Academy, where students continue to study their behavior, along with the hatching of Aqua Dragon eggs that traveled aboard the Zero-G flight.

A journey rooted on the Plains

Tucker’s path to becoming a nationally recognized STEAM educator took root on the Plains but began in an unexpected place.

“So, picture this: a small-town girl from a dairy farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with her heart set on becoming a zookeeper, ends up in sweet Auburn, Alabama!” she said. “I graduated in 2004 with a degree in Elementary Education, but my journey there was a bit of a greater calling. Funny enough, teaching was practically the family business – my mom, both grandmas, aunts, and even an uncle were all teachers! I was determined to do something different...or so I thought. But something about Auburn just grabbed me.”

Initially enrolling at Auburn as a zoology major, she discovered her true calling through a work-study tutoring assignment at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School.

“Within a month of working with students and seeing the impact I could have, I realized my trajectory should be in teaching,” she said. “Auburn had this small-town feel that reminded me of home, and slowly but surely, my heart started tugging me toward something that had always been there.”

She switched her major to Elementary Education and never looked back.

Auburn’s lasting impact

Tucker credits Auburn’s College of Education with preparing her not only academically, but practically.

“Auburn’s College of Education provided a comprehensive preparation that went far beyond just the academic content,” she said. “I truly valued the emphasis on practical experience through the numerous practicums in the Auburn City Schools. Getting into real classroom environments early on was invaluable in developing my teaching skills and understanding the dynamics of a school setting.”

She added that “What I love most about Auburn’s College of Education is its strong emphasis on preparing well-rounded educators who are not only knowledgeable in their subject matter but also deeply connected to the practical realities of teaching. The early exposure to classroom environments through practicums in the Auburn City Schools was invaluable and directly shaped my approach to instruction. The faculty instilled in me not just what to teach, but how to teach effectively and with passion.” 

Tucker fondly recalls the mentorship of Jennifer Spencer, her cooperating teacher during student teaching, and College of Education professor Octavia Tripp, whose engaging lessons helped Tucker discover a love for physical science.

“I still use Jennifer’s ‘Seed’ method for sparking classroom discussions today,” Tucker said. “Furthermore, Dr. Octavia Tripp, my professor for teaching elementary science, truly opened my eyes to the wonders of physical science. Before her class, I was primarily focused on life science, even considering a career as a zoologist. However, Dr. Tripp's engaging teaching methods and her introduction to my first NASA lesson—building 'rocket' cars propelled by balloons from Styrofoam trays—showed me how exciting physics could be for young learners.”

A career of innovation

Since graduating from Auburn, Tucker has taught STEM in Florida, aerospace education in California, earned a Master of Science degree from Walden University and now leads curriculum and gifted instruction in Virginia. Her accomplishments include:

• Space for Teachers microgravity flight (2024–2025)
• Travel to Lagos, Nigeria, as a Limitless Space Institute Educator
• Earning an Amateur Radio Extra Class license to facilitate a live conversation between her students and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams aboard the International Space Station (December 2024)
• The A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year Award from the National Aviation Hall of Fame (2023)
• The National Air & Space Forces Association/Rolls-Royce STEM Teacher of the Year award (2021)
• The Virginia State Air Force Association Teacher of the Year (2020).
• The National American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Educator Achievement Award (2019)
• Space Station Ambassador (2017)
• Space Foundation Teacher Liaison (2017)
• NASA SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador (2014)
• National Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Aerospace Educator of the Year (2011)
• Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Awardee for the state of Florida (PAEMST) (2011)
• Leading two elementary schools to be awarded the National CAP Aerospace Connections in Education School of the Year (2008-2009 and 2018-2019).
• Spearheading Hillsboro Charter Academy's recognition as an ITEEA STEM School of Excellence (six years in a row: 2019 through present) and an ITEEA, VTEEA, and VCEC STEM Program of the Year (2021)
• Writing national curriculum for AVID as well as Civil Air Patrol (multiple years)
• Becoming a published author in Science Netlinks and ITEEA's STEM Journal for Elementary as well as Secondary Science (multiple years)

Advice for future educators

To students entering Auburn’s College of Education, Tucker offers this advice: 

“Embrace every opportunity that comes your way,” she said. “Get involved in practicums and immerse yourselves in the local schools – these real-world experiences are where theory truly comes to life. Build strong relationships with your professors and your peers; they will be your network and support system throughout your career. Don't be afraid to explore different areas within education; you might be surprised where your passions truly lie, as I was. And most importantly, remember why you chose education—to make a difference in the lives of students.”

And from the Plains of Auburn to the edge of space, Tucker said her journey proves just how far a passion for teaching—and an Auburn education—can take you.

“With my Auburn University degree, I have been able to literally soar!” she said.