91���

Aviation teacher came out of retirement to give lessons on flying and life

The National Pilot’s Association has a free aviation curriculum that any high school in America can adopt. Jay Sarason thought why not bring it to Sargent High School. In fact, he came out of retirement just to teach it.

Now with the class in its fifth year, the Adams State School of Education is honoring Sarason with the Educator Highlight Award for September.

“I brought it to the school board and they loved it,” Sarason said of the aviation curriculum. “They didn’t have a teacher available so I volunteered and fell in love with the kids and continued out of retirement to teach it.”

Sarason is a pilot and flight instructor himself, and was an officer with the Colorado Division of Wildlife for the better part of three decades. Now, he spends his days and weekends teaching students not just how to be good pilots and how to read maps, he’s teaching them life skills that can take them anywhere.

What are the applications for this class? Sarason says, “Everything.”

Flying incorporates “physics, decision making, weather, map reading, knot tying. You name it. It’s really a holistic program that develops them as a pilot but even if they don’t fly, the skills are universally transferable to just being a good person in the community.”

Most Saturdays, Sarason takes his students to the Del Norte airport so they can fly.

He has just about every freshman taking his class this year and it continues to grow in popularity.

“The kids that are able to take it love it. I think it’s one of their favorite classes.”

The students aren’t just sitting in class reading PowerPoints or studying, they’re getting hands-on experience. They’re getting up in the air. Sarason was even able to secure flight simulators for his students to use.

Field trips and guest speakers are part of the fun, too. They took a trip to Washington, D.C., and Sarason says his students have been able to listen to astronauts and test pilots in the classroom.

“It’s a really pretty active, dynamic class.”

Sarason’s motto is to always “fly the plane.” When in doubt or trouble, “fly the plane.” In sunshine or rain, “fly the plane.”

The Educator Highlight Award recognizes 91��� School of Education alumni, prominent local teachers, and other educators working within or hailing from the San Luis Valley. In so doing, 91��� hopes to build familiarity with the community as a serious destination for future educators.

Here’s a list of all the educators who have been presented with the award from Adams State School of Education.

PAST EHA WINNERS

Presley Garcia, Monte Vista special education teacher
Nick Dionisio, Alamosa High English teacher
Aaron Miltenberger, Boys & Girls Club executive director
Anna Bishop, Center High School CLD teacher
Phyllis Vigil, Sierra Grande first-grade teacher
AlexAndria Moore-Guenter, Moffat Schools secondary counselor
Omar Gonzalez, Alamosa Elementary visual art and music teacher
Leanna Brazel, Alamosa Elementary kindergarten teacher
Freddy Lawrence, Alamosa Elementary custodian
Joe Guenther, South Conejos School District
Katie Turner, Del Norte math teacher
Edwin Mondragon, Monte Vista High School agriculture teacher
Aaron Williams, GOAL High School English teacher
Miriam Baines, Alamosa High School biology and math teacher
Rachel Kellum, Moffat Schools art teacher
Darlene Pinales, Sargent School District, food service staff member
Upward Bound summer faculty, 91���
Erika Henderson, Alamosa High School chemistry teacher

ABOUT THE EDUCATOR HIGHLIGHT AWARD:

This monthly award recognizes 91��� School of Education alumni, prominent local teachers, and other educators working within or hailing from the San Luis Valley. In so doing, 91��� hopes to build familiarity with the community as a serious destination for future educators. To nominate and educator email Paul Clark at pclark@adams.edu.