Getting to know Mrs. Cushing....
My name is Mrs. Barbara Cushing and I am honored to be the 7-8 STEM Teacher! I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Statistics and Computer Science, and a Master’s degree in Education, with a Secondary STEM certification as well as Science, Mathematics Specialist and Gifted Education Endorsements.
A little bit about me: I am married, and have two children. My daughter, Stephanie, is a computer animator and works for Sony Pictures Imageworks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Throughout her movie career, she has worked on 10 films (Ice Age 4, Epic, Rio 2, Hotel Transylvania 2, Angry Birds, The Emoji Movie, Delgo, Storks, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and Smallfoot). Next month she begins work on Angry Birds 2. My son, Cody, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, and one in History. He recently graduated from the University of Arizona and began working on Artificial Intelligence projects at the General Motors Innovation Center in Austin, Texas. My husband, Norm, is a Software Manager at the General Motors Innovation Center here in Chandler, Arizona, and was previously the Software Manager/Scientist at Steward Observatory at UA, working with the Large Binocular Telescope project (the largest terrestrial telescope in the world).
I have been blessed in my academic and professional life, as my experiences range from the typical to the extraordinary! Prior to entering the education field, I had the unique opportunity to work in several exciting fields -- as a soldier; a Mars planetary researcher at the US Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Division; a computer scientist for the US Navy; a scientific satellite planner at the University of Alaska; a STEM Associate Lead at UA’s Biosphere 2; and as a Sea Ice Researcher in Antarctica on board the National Science Foundation’s icebreaker/research vessel R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer. Due to my work in Antarctica, I was one of the scientists highlighted in the May 1996 issue of National Geographic. Interesting trivia: Antarctica is a Cushing family tradition as my daughter (as an undergraduate) and husband (through his work with Scientific Atlanta), have all worked in Antarctica!
Outside the classroom, my husband and I love to jet ski. One of the highlights for us is to go jet ski camping at Lake Powell! Basically, jet ski camping is just like backpacking, but instead of putting all our gear on our backs, we pack all our camping gear on our jet skis and sail fifty-plus miles out to the remote sites on Lake Powell. We have also been known to go help out our friend at PaleoAdventures in South Dakota to do a bit of dinosaur bone excavating!
I am looking forward to a fantastic year!
Mrs. Cushing
A little bit about me: I am married, and have two children. My daughter, Stephanie, is a computer animator and works for Sony Pictures Imageworks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Throughout her movie career, she has worked on 10 films (Ice Age 4, Epic, Rio 2, Hotel Transylvania 2, Angry Birds, The Emoji Movie, Delgo, Storks, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and Smallfoot). Next month she begins work on Angry Birds 2. My son, Cody, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, and one in History. He recently graduated from the University of Arizona and began working on Artificial Intelligence projects at the General Motors Innovation Center in Austin, Texas. My husband, Norm, is a Software Manager at the General Motors Innovation Center here in Chandler, Arizona, and was previously the Software Manager/Scientist at Steward Observatory at UA, working with the Large Binocular Telescope project (the largest terrestrial telescope in the world).
I have been blessed in my academic and professional life, as my experiences range from the typical to the extraordinary! Prior to entering the education field, I had the unique opportunity to work in several exciting fields -- as a soldier; a Mars planetary researcher at the US Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Division; a computer scientist for the US Navy; a scientific satellite planner at the University of Alaska; a STEM Associate Lead at UA’s Biosphere 2; and as a Sea Ice Researcher in Antarctica on board the National Science Foundation’s icebreaker/research vessel R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer. Due to my work in Antarctica, I was one of the scientists highlighted in the May 1996 issue of National Geographic. Interesting trivia: Antarctica is a Cushing family tradition as my daughter (as an undergraduate) and husband (through his work with Scientific Atlanta), have all worked in Antarctica!
Outside the classroom, my husband and I love to jet ski. One of the highlights for us is to go jet ski camping at Lake Powell! Basically, jet ski camping is just like backpacking, but instead of putting all our gear on our backs, we pack all our camping gear on our jet skis and sail fifty-plus miles out to the remote sites on Lake Powell. We have also been known to go help out our friend at PaleoAdventures in South Dakota to do a bit of dinosaur bone excavating!
I am looking forward to a fantastic year!
Mrs. Cushing