April Lanotte

Fellowship Placement: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

April Lanotte has been an aerospace educator at the formal, informal, and federal agency level for over twenty years. Currently the STEM Integration Lead for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, April works with internal and external NASA organizations to find ways to bring STEM Education and NASA’s aeronautics work together. She also supports aviation and STEM workforce development initiatives, including Career and Technical Education development. She also created and is an Aerospace Alley Education Committee lead for the state-wide Colorado group, which supports aviation and space education and workforce development, including the statewide CTE High School Aviation Advisory Board. In Jan. of 2022, April received the “Women to Watch” award from Women and Drones for her education work in the field of unmanned aircraft systems. Born and raised in the rural town of Mars, PA, April works on making aerospace science more accessible to all educators and students. She holds graduate degrees in both English (science writing emphasis) and in Space Education. She is constantly working on cross-curricular ties to STEM content. She authored a STEM Literacy chapter to the 2018 publication Best Practices in STEM Education: Innovative Approaches from Einstein Fellow Alumni. Other published aeronautics projects include small unmanned aerial vehicle lessons and activities, an activity guide that focuses on Earth’s atmosphere and human survival at high altitudes, development of AOPA’s high school aviation curriculum, and lessons that support ShareSpace Foundation’s Giant Moon Map. She has also contributed science content to Challenger Center for Space Science, the LEGO Space Challenge Activity Pack, and Disney’s Youth Experiences in Science. April works tirelessly to bridge the gap between education audiences, organizations, and industry.