Tomball High School Teacher Set to Take Student Research into Space

TOMBALL — What began last year as a rare opportunity for Tomball High School Astronomy and Earth Science teacher Jessica Schilder, is now preparing to become a once-in-a-lifetime experience—one that will take her students’ research off the ground and into microgravity.

Schilder has been selected as an Educator Flyer for the Space for Teachers Embedded Teacher Program and will travel to Bordeaux, France, this November to participate in a parabolic flight designed to test student research in a microgravity environment.

The flight is scheduled for November 20, 2026, with Schilder traveling from Texas to France beginning November 17.

As one of 15 educators participating in the program, Schilder will board an Airbus A310 specially equipped for parabolic flight. The aircraft will complete a series of 15 parabolas, allowing participants to experience approximately six minutes of total weightlessness while conducting research developed through the program.

For Schilder, the experience represents the culmination of nearly a year of collaboration with aerospace experts, technical design work and industry-level engineering reviews—all centered around giving students an authentic opportunity to experience what it is like to conduct research for spaceflight.

“Watching my students get excited about real data collection in science has been amazing,” said Schilder. “I have had the opportunity to see how important it is for students to feel like they are a real part of the space exploration industry. I love seeing my passion for space reflected in them.”

Schilder teaches Astronomy and Earth Science at Tomball High School and Aerospace Engineering through Project Lead The Way. She also serves as a Space Foundation Teacher Liaison and National Astronomy Education Coordinator Affiliate, continuing to connect her classroom to opportunities in the broader aerospace and STEM communities.

Her selection for the Space for Teachers Embedded Teacher Program was first announced by Tomball ISD in October 2025, when she was recognized as one of a select group of educators chosen for the program. Since then, Schilder has worked through the program's research and engineering process to prepare for the upcoming flight.

The opportunity is particularly meaningful because of its direct connection to Schilder’s students.

Throughout the program, educators have worked with aerospace professionals to develop research projects, refine technical designs and prepare their experiments for flight. Schilder will now take that work aboard the aircraft, giving her students the opportunity to see their research tested under conditions that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom.

“Jessica Schilder brings an incredible passion for astronomy and space science to Tomball High School and inspires students through innovative, hands-on learning,” said Dave Surdovel, TISD Director of Math and Science. “Her dedication not only elevates our science programs but also shows our students that big dreams, like exploring space, are within reach.”

Schilder's work in space and astronomy education extends beyond the classroom. She has also hosted Star Night events at Tomball High School, giving students and community members opportunities to explore the night sky through telescopes and learn more about astronomy.

This fall, Schilder will take the next step in that mission—traveling thousands of miles from Tomball to Bordeaux, France, and taking her students' research with her.

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,300 students across 26 campuses.