2014 Master Teachers: Bryan DeBates

Bryan DeBates serves as the director-education for the Space Foundation, where he administers the development and implementation of the Space Foundation's education programs that support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. This includes establishing project goals and developing education programs to support the efforts of classroom educators and Space Foundation education partners. He directs the Space Foundation's education programs including the Space Across the Curriculum professional development courses as well as education programs for students in the Space Foundation Discovery Center's three education labs. Those programs include standards-based field trips centered around Science on a Sphere which also includes world-wide outreach through GlobalCasts, the Mars Robotics Laboratory and the AGI Space Missions Simulation Laboratory. DeBates also ensures that the programs follow the Space Foundation's mission, to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity.

Prior to his position at the Space Foundation, DeBates taught 5th grade at Timberwilde Elementary in San Antonio, Texas, and Title I math and reading at Ipswich Elementary in Ipswich, S.D. DeBates has been honored for his achievements in education through numerous awards, including being named the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Frank J. Malina Astronautics Medal presented by the International Astronautical Federation, Time Warner Cable's National Crystal Apple Award, the Air Force Association's Alamo Chapter Teacher of the Year and the Christa McAuliffe Memorial Award. He was selected by Texas A&M as a recipient of the Educator's Shape the Future Award and was cited in the U.S. Congressional Record for his contributions to education. DeBates was inducted into the inaugural class of Teacher Liaisons by the Space Foundation and has participated in the Zero-G Weightless Flights of Discovery.

DeBates earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern State University as well as being selected as an Academic All-American football player. He attained a master's degree in education with an emphasis in space science education leadership from Regis University.