Brevard Public Schools welcomed Elaine P. Ho, Associate Administrator for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, to Merritt Island High and Edgewood Jr./Sr. High on Thursday, Aug. 27, for a firsthand look at how BPS students are turning classroom learning into real-world aerospace and technology careers.

The visit highlighted the district's Career and Technical Education programs, which give students hands-on skills, industry certifications, and direct pathways into Brevard County's growing aerospace, engineering and technology workforce. BPS is one of 23 Florida school districts selected for the Space Florida Academy Program, partnering with Space Florida, NASA, Kennedy Space Center and regional industry to build a skilled, homegrown workforce for the Space Coast.

At Merritt Island High, officials toured the Astronautics and Flight Exploration (AFEX) Academy, where students train alongside instructors and industry partners on aeronautics and flight systems. The tour continued at Edgewood Jr./Sr. High, where Robotics Lab students showed visitors their current projects.

Connecting students directly with partners like NASA shows them not just what they are learning, but where that learning can take them.

Learn more about CTE programs at BPS at Career and Technical Education | Brevard Public Schools