Lewis Center for Educational Research

Historical Highlights

1985

Concept developed by Rick Piercy, a Kindergarten teacher.

1986

Apple Computer, Inc. donates Apple IIe as a prize for the first jog-a-thon.

1987

Ground breaking ceremonies attended by Astronaut Dick Covey.

1986-1987

Business, education, and community leaders who believe they could make a difference in education, form the Partnership in Academic Excellence Program which raises $1.2 million for building and furnishings.

1988

Apple Computer, Inc. and IBM donate first computers.

1988-1990

The "Star Fleet" volunteer organization begins developing programs.

October 19, 1990

Grand Opening of the Apple Valley Science and Technology Center.

1991

Solar Eclipse activities broadcast nationally from the Center.

1991 & 1993

JASON Project received via satellite - and rebroadcast to area schools.

1992

Chosen by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Regional Resource Center.
High Desert "Partnership in Academic Excellence" Foundation, Incorporated established as 501(c) (3) tax-exempt educational foundation.

1993

Chosen as one of two national sites for the Telescopes in Education Program.

1994

Students access and remotely control the 24" telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory.
Hundreds observe P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet collide with Jupiter by on-site & remote telescopes.
Jim Roller, Center curriculum developer, chosen as one of 20 State Telementors.
Mr. Dan Goldin, Administrator of NASA, and Astronaut Tom Akers visit the Center.
California Governors wife, Mrs. Gayle Wilson, visits the Center.
NASA, JPL, Mount Wilson and the Science and Technology Center form a partnership to turn over a radio telescope at Goldstone to be run remotely and to be made available to students nationwide.
CONTEL and the County of San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools develop partnership to place a 56K telephone line from the Center into the County Internet connection.

September 30, 1994

President Clinton signs legislation introduced by Congressman Jerry Lewis which provides $850,000 to triple the size of the Center.

1995

16th Annual Golden Bell Award presented to the Center by the California School Boards Foundation.

1996

Hundreds observe spectacular display of the Hyakutake Comet.

October 30, 1996

Partnership Agreement signed with NASA, JPL and Center for Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope Project (GAVRT).

1997

Groundbreaking for Center Expansion.

July 11, 1997

Awarded charter for Academy for Academic Excellence. School opens August 1997 with 225 students, K-12

April 3, 1998

Renamed Center in honor of Congressman Jerry Lewis, at the dedication of building expansion.
Supervisor Kathy Davis dedicates Bill Davis Memorial. Announces Bill Davis Endowed Scholarship for Aviation.

April 14, 1998

Received first NASA Group Achievement Award for work in developing GAVRT and successfully demonstrating it as an innovative resource for science education in our nation's classrooms.

October 1998

NASA Administrator Dan Goldin recognizes Rick Piercy with NASA Public Service Award, the agency's highest civilian honor.

July 1999

Received first of two State of California grants totaling $3 million to acquire and develop Mojave River Campus.

October 1999

Awarded first of two multimillion dollar million grants by Department of Defense Education Activity.

April 2000

Named participant in Cassini-JMOC calibration mission by JPL.

May 18, 2000

Air Quality Management District donates hands-on interactive air quality management exhibits.

June 2000

Awarded third Sate of California grant totaling $4.5 million to complete new Mission Operations Center.

July 24, 2000

Mojave River Campus opens.

December 30, 2000

GAVRT students participate in NASA/JPL Cassini Millennium flyby.

May 2001

Students and staff recognized with second NASA Group Achievement Award for teamwork in the Cassini Jupiter Microwave Observing Campaign.

November 1, 2001

Finalist - Tech Museum of Innovation Award - "Technology Benefiting Humanity"

November 2001

Technology Center dedicated.

March 2002

Rick Piercy honored with the Hart Vision Award for Outstanding Charter School Administrator.

December 5, 2002

DoDEA Hohenfels High School in Germany first overseas American school to successfully run the GAVRT Radio Telescope. Joyce Dusenberry is the teacher.

May 6, 2003

DoDEA Taegu American School in South Korea and their teacher, John Malone conduct the second successful overseas connection using the GAVRT Radio Telescope, DSS12.

August 2003

Students from Washington, Iowa, Pennsylvania and California participate in radar astronomy investigation of planet Mars with NASA/JPL scientists. Students assisted in the measurements of the Gusev Crater landing site selected for the Mars Exploration Rover "Spirit" scheduled to land on Mars in January 2004

December 2003

DoDEA Kubaski High School in Japan and their teacher, John Thomas, conduct successful overseas connection.

March 2004

Hosted area's first National Conference, the National Association of Laboratory Schools

May 2004

Mitsubishi Greenhouse dedicated at Mojave River Campus. Students grow native plants for reclamation of mined areas.

July 2004

The History of Apple Valley, written by Kate O'Rourke, produced by the Lewis Center, was published. The unique history of Apple Valley was published with photos and interviews from local residents that were here when the Town was established. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to a scholarship fund for Apple Valley seniors going to college.

October 2004

R.O.V.E.R. (Remotely Operated Vehicle for Environmental Research) debuts at teacher training. R.O.V.E.R. is a web based interactive program which allows students to collect observational data on virtual planetary condition.

June 2005

The Story of the Lewis Center for Educational Research, written by Cheryl Thompson was published to chronicle the history of the Lewis Center. It was written to mark the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Center.

August 2005

The Lewis Center for Educational Research celebrates its 20th year anniversary with celebration dinner outdoors on the Mojave River Campus. Congressman Lewis was the keynote speaker.

January 2006

Congressman Lewis is keynote speaker at luncheon held at the Lewis Center for 80 plus school administrators and business owners to introduce plans to replicate the AAE Charter School near the former Norton Air Force Base.

February 2006

The Academy for Academic Excellence was awarded a 6-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. WASC accreditation ensures schools and universities that the school has undergone a rigorous examination of its culture and teaching practice.

September 20, 2006

First gathering of the new charter school's Founders Group. The school is named Norton Space and Aeronautics Academy (NSAA).

October 2006

Tenth anniversary celebration of the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT) program, held at the Goldstone Deep Space Network.

December 2006

Rick Piercy is presented with the "2006 Spirit of Freedom Award" for exemplifying Freedom Communications' Core values of Integrity, Community, Self-Responsibility, Life-Long Learning, and Respect for Individual Freedom. This award comes from the Daily Press.

January 2007

Academy for Academic Excellence begins long awaited Junior Air Force ROTC program for high school students.

March 14, 2007

Release of DVD produced at the Lewis Center, "Remembering Victorville". Proceeds from the sale of the DVD fund film scholarships for AAE students.

April 2, 2007

Norton Space and Aeronautics Academy's charter petition is approved by the San Bernardino County Board of Education. It is the first charter school approved by the county.

April 16, 2007

The Academy for Academic Excellence was honored as a California Distinguished School. Only 95 high schools were honored.

April 2007

The Academy for Academic Excellence is honored as one of the Nation's first "Certified Charter Schools". The honor validates and distinguishes charter schools that have met high-quality academic, governance and fiscal standards.

July 18, 2007

First official School Board meeting of the Norton Space and Aeronautics Academy.

Thunderbird Campus Features

LUZ Observatory houses multiple video-enhanced optical telescopes used with children and adult programs.
US Air Force, Link T-40 Jet Flight Simulator used to train students in science and math of aviation.

Mojave River Campus Features

$4.5 million Technology Center.
34-meter radio telescope located at NASA's Deep Space Network at Goldstone, California, in the Mojave Desert. Used with students across the Country, via the Internet, doing actual deep space research. Connect via the Internet.
State of the art Global Outreach Mission Operations Center.
Planet Rox-1 - A simulated terrestrial planet explored by students via the Internet, controlling a rover.
Digital video studio and editing facilities.
University of Redlands School of Education satellite campus.
Parent Support Center.
Wildlands self-tour.
Mineral City - Local Outreach Field Trips.
Simulated Archaeology site for Local Outreach Field Trips
100 acre Mojave River Wildlands, environmental study area.

Statistics

21,000+ GAVRT program participants - trained 302 teachers from 177 schools in 27 states, 3 Territories, and 13 Countries.
Hosted more than 100,000 teachers, students and community members on Lewis Center field trips and other events.
Academy for Academic Excellence 2006 - 2007 Enrollment -- 950 K-12, almost 2,800 on waiting list
Received approximately $36 million in total grants and awards since founding.
2006 AAE high school test scores highest in high desert area