AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A local teacher was chosen out of many across the nation to attend a summer institute at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Amarillo High School teacher, Rebecca Harwell, will be one of 46 to head down south this summer to collaborate with other educators to conduct experiments and share lesson plans and ideas.

"We try to expose the student's to different causes in earth science and in space science -- whether it be on the mechanical side, the engineering side or the research side of things. We talk about global warning and every earth issue possible just to expose them to everything that we can," said Rebecca Harwell, A.I.S.D. Earth & Science Teacher. "Having the opportunity to go to the Liftoff Summer Institute is just another way for me to pull resources and tap the minds of other educators and to hear from engineers and experts in the filed of space exploration."

Harwell is teaching a new class -- Earth and Space Science -- to seniors.

She is one of four teachers in the district teaching this new class.

Palo Duro and Tascosa High School also have this new class option available.