Brandi DeSandro helps her students see beyond the walls of Goshen High School and her efforts recently garnered a national award.

DeSandro, a history teacher at Goshen High School, was named the Montgomery Chapter Teacher of the Year by the Air Force Association for her work with the Civil Air Patrol program in her classroom. The CyberPatriot program is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire high school students toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to the nation’s future.

“I integrate the teaching of the aerospace into the lessons,” DeSandro said. “Recently, my students have built rockets and will launch them this Tuesday.”

DeSandro teaches the program during GHS’s discovery block, allowing the students to apply aerospace to multiple subjects.

“Everything has that education background,” DeSandro said. “But because it’s hands-on, they are able to do everything themselves instead of being bored with a typical lesson. I believe in hands-on activities, and being able to do that gives them first-hand knowledge and experiences.”

She began teaching the program in 2007 in New Brockton. She brought the program to Pike County in 2010.

The award allowed DeSandro to travel to Seattle, Wash., with her family to see different museums, facilities, etc. She also won a $250 grant to use in her classroom.

“It’s an extreme honor to receive this type of award,” DeSandro said. “I never thought I would get this type of recognition. It’s an award that they could have given to anybody.”

DeSandro said being recognized was not as important as the program receiving recognition.

“I just want the program recognized more than anything,” DeSandro said. “I highly recommend this program to any core curriculum because a teacher can get so much out of this with the materials they send. I’m always trying to tell other people how wonderful it is.”

DeSandro said it is a fun program that not only the students enjoy, but she enjoys them as much as her students.

“I like to have fun,” she said. “If I think it’s fun and I’m exhibiting that to the students, I think they are getting a lot out of it.”

For more information or to get involved with the program, contact Susan Mallet, youth development and AFA programs coordinator with Civil Air Patrol.