Fossum Falcons Learn That Sky's the Limit From Their School's Namesake
education, mcallen, michael e. fossum middle school,
When teachers at the newly opened Michael E. Fossum Middle School tell students that the sky’s the limit, they’ve got handy points of reference painted right on the gym wall.
The mural features a space shuttle in flight, highlighting the career of NASA astronaut and 1976 McAllen High School alumnus Mike Fossum, for whom the school is named, as well as a falcon, the school’s mascot. The facility was built as part of a $97 million school bond issue passed in 2005. It opened for the 2008-09 school year.
“It’s an absolutely beautiful facility, and we’re having a wonderful time getting started here,” says Joanetta Ellis, principal. “We’ve had wonderful support from the community throughout the entire process.”
For Fossum, who has flown into orbit on the space shuttle twice – most recently in June 2008 aboard Discovery, having a school bear his name is a whole new experience.
“It’s a little daunting, actually,” Fossum says. “I’m catching a lot of grief from some old buddies I was in middle school with, because they remember all the hijinks we got up to back then.”
Despite any hijinks that Fossum’s friends may remember, naming the school for Fossum was a natural, says Norma Zamora-Guerra, community information director for the McAllen Independent School District.
“We’re very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni, and we want our students to recognize the kind of education that we provide here,” Zamora-Guerra says. “What Mr. Fossum learned here helped catapult him into space, and we’re very proud of that.”
The school has a strong focus on science, no big surprise given its namesake, with science and computer labs that enhance standard classroom learning.
“We’ve put a lot of our money into technology, and the three labs with Macintosh computers are wowing everyone,” Ellis says. “We’re also a candidate school this year for the International Baccalaureate program, and one thing they stress is that everything be of equal value, so we’re tying our labs into our classrooms and using our technology across the entire school.”
When Fossum visits the school, he’ll no doubt keep students enthralled. He’s had six space walks between his two shuttle flights, with the last three as part of the installation of the Japanese-built Kibo lab at the International Space Station.
“The work is strange and frustrating, because you can’t line things up on your desk and reach over for a cup of coffee or a pencil,” he says. “Nothing stays put, which is what the Velcro and duct tape is for.”
Installing the 32,000-pound lab was a challenge, but, with one mission under his belt, it was one Fossum said he was able to get his head and arms around.
“I was mentally prepared for the mission, from all of the pre-launch preparation to launch day,” he says. “We rode the rocket to space and then got to work. I adapted immediately. It was like as soon as we got up there, my brain said, ‘Yeah, we’re back.’ “
And for Ellis, who opened the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in 1986, being able to once again honor an astronaut is an incredible feeling.
“It’s pretty cool to be the only principal of the two schools named after heroes in our midst,” she says. “And with Mike, it’s been a great experience. I think he’s going to be really pleased with what we’re doing here.”
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Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Jesse Knish
