idoodlEDU Thinkatorium

Greetings! I am Amber Agee-DeHart. Currently I run an educational non-profit, idoodlEDU inc., where we create unique programs and curriculum for students in addition to the design and delivery of professional development training - all in an effort to foster curiosity and critical thinking along with the exploration and discovery of knowledge. In 2014, I founded and created Cubes In Space™, (www.cubesinspace.com) a global STEAM-based education program that provides students (ages 11-18) with a FREE opportunity to design and compete to launch an experiment into space from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility. I have over 25 years of program management and curriculum design and instruction experience in the creation and delivery of geospatial, integrative STEM, environmental science, workforce development and aerospace education programs for students and teachers with NASA, idoodlesoftware inc, the Rubik Learning Initiative (RLI), the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) and the Virginia Beach City Public Schools where I taught high school for 14 years.

Whether teaching students or other educators, I always put myself in their shoes and ask, "is this something that values and respects my time?" This question guides everything I design and deliver. I'm not a "preach and teach" type of educator...at all! I want everyone to be fully engaged in a captivating and positive experience where I facilitate and guide their learning. I give ample time for discussion, reflection and application of content or skills learned. And most importantly, I inject humor (albeit corny, nerdy humor) and opportunities for loads of communication and dialogue. Learning should be joyful, meaningful, and purposeful!

NASA's Langley Research Center Team Award for the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars program; the NASA Langley Research Center Director’s Award for Creativity, Teamwork and Innovation; the Virginia Math and Science Coalition’s Programs That Work Award; the NASA Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement Team Award for the Virginia Space Coast Scholars program; and the Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Outreach award for the Cubes in Space program. In 2014, I was elected to serve as Chairperson on the University Space Research Association's (USRA) Science and Engineering Education Council.

Bachelor of Science in Geology ('94) and Masters of Science in Special Education with a Concentration on Applied Behavior Analysis ('98) from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Certificate in Social Sector Leadership from Berkely Haas Business School. I've engaged in post-graduate studies in Environmental Law; Wetland Law and Policy; Wetland Delineation ; Wetland Construction and Mitigation; Oyster Cultivation; Aerospace Engineering, Robotics; Project Management, and Gifted Education. I love being a student. Any chance I get to take courses...I do!

I have a great family that makes me laugh daily and two HUGE Bombay cats, Edgar (20 lbs) and Houdini (24 lbs) that look like miniature jaguars! I'm fortunate to have a job that allows me to be creative and work with fantastically brilliant people. I'm a pragmatic optimist and like to "think big" - which can be annoying for other people :-P