Civil Air Patrol’s 2023 National Aerospace Teacher of the Year isn’t exactly resting on her laurels. Instead, Julie Sicks-Panus continues to promote STEM education in and out of CAP, excelling at the classroom, squadron, wing, state, and national levels.
Sicks-Panus is the K-8th grade STEM (science, technology, education, and math) teacher at Plymouth Elementary School in New Hampshire. She’s also the school’s Technology Student Association adviser and the robotics coach.
As a Civil Air Patrol major, she’s the New Hampshire Wing’s director of aerospace education, a squadron aerospace education officer, and a member of the national volunteer team for the CAP High-Altitude Balloon Challenge for cadets.
In between, she still finds time to serve as her state’s International Technology and Engineering Educators Association affiliate representative.
The association recently recognized her with its Public Understanding of Technology and Engineering Education Award, honoring outstanding service to technology and engineering education as determined by a committee of expert peer reviewers.
It’s “bestowed upon an individual who, while working in their field, has also contributed substantially to the public understanding of technology and engineering,” according to the association. “Winners’ contributions have reached broad audiences and have a sustained record of contributing to the public understanding of technology and engineering.”
Meanwhile, the Technology Student Association chapter claimed state competition awards, with the middle school team earning a spot in the national conference and competition set for Orlando, Florida, in June. The students will be competing in robotics, bridge-building, public speaking, and technical issues debates, and also supporting their technology essays. ,
Her school administrative assistant, Jenny Lee, can’t say enough positive words about Sicks-Panus’ impact on the school.
“Julie brings great expertise and excitement to the STEM educational programs at our school,” said Lee, whose two children are in Sicks-Panus’ classes. “She encourages students to seek higher levels of understanding and varied programmatic participation.
“Julie’s above-and-beyond time and efforts have brought challenging opportunities to the students, which are helping them explore future career options.”
Sicks-Panus originally joined CAP as an aerospace education member in 2006 November 2006. She became a full-fledged adult member in 2014, joining the New Hampshire Wing’s Gilford-based Hawk Composite Squadron as aerospace education officer — a post she continues to fill today in addition to her wing staff position.
She supports aerospace education at all levels in the New Hampshire Wing. She uses CAP’s numerous aerospace/STEM products and programs at Plymouth Elementary, in her professional outreach efforts, and in the Hawk squadron and the wing.
In all aspects of her multifaceted, mission, she’s fond of citing a quotation by Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry: “It is difficult to say what is impossible. The dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.”
CAP.news presents this profile of Civil Air Patrol’s 2023 National Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year, Maj. Julie Sicks-Panus of the New Hampshire Wing, in coordination with Teacher Appreciation Week, May 1-7, and National Teacher Day, May 7.
