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During work hours, Lea Bentley Castillo may dwell among NASA’s astronomical exploits, but for a time she lived aboard the yacht Princess Lea. Married six years to Chris, Lea refers to her husband as “Mr. Transportation” because they presently own an airplane.
“I have said NO to having a train,” she said.
In those first years of marriage, Lea said they had a much simpler life with not as much space to keep clean and casting anchor in the bay to take a nap or watch the sun set.
“It was somewhat similar to living in space,” Lea said. “The astronauts have very little room but have an awesome view from their windows.”
Lea and her husband have two children – Chase age 3½ and Elissa 11 months, who both love to go flying.
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....anywhere … anytime
learning with Lea Bentley Castillo!
Lea Bentley Castillo may well be the rocket scientist of the distance learning world. In a career that currently blasts off from the Houston Space Center, she has flown through a vast network of videoconferencing experiences.
“Every experience I have had from teaching to sales to non-profit work has helped me with my work at NASA,” Lea said.
As her professional career began as a fourth grade self-contained teacher in an open concept school, Lea left teaching to complete her masters degree at Texas A&M University. During this time, she worked for the 12th Man Foundation raising money for the athletic group.
“I had the time of my life asking for money and attending all the Aggie games and events,” Lea said.
Commuting from Pearland to College Station as she finished those last classes before graduating, Lea enjoyed substitute teaching.
“Most people think I’m crazy but I loved teaching all grades, all subjects and not having any responsibility to their test scores,” she said.
Her chronological course finally began to turn toward distance education when Lea went to Laredo Community College to set up their videoconferencing network and first distance learning courses to the local high school. When she was ready to leave Laredo, Lea took a sales position with a small company in Houston marketing video conferencing and data communications equipment.
“I jumped at the job although I was not very good because I wanted to help the schools get this amazing technology and was too generous with my pricing,” Lea said. “Oh well!”
Lea’s connections with TxDLA professionals came as Lea accepted a position as an education specialist with Region IV ESC setting up its videoconferencing network and training.
“It is there that my relationships with people like Laurie Hogle, Tommy Bearden and others began,” Lea said. “I have been on all sides of the distance learning world. Ask me anything?!”
Lea’s career with NASA started as the Texas distance learning coordinator identifying schools to participate in the Texas Middle School Aerospace Scholars program. After a year, her position changed with a promotion to supervisor of the education team along with overseeing the Protocol VIP tour team.
“During my first year and through my time as supervisor, I was able to be on camera and write curriculum for the Digital Learning Network team,” Lea said. “My heart is still 99 percent teacher and I struggle with my inner drive for leadership.”
 Lea currently is manager over the public affairs and education groups responsible for a staff of 50 that support NASA television, community outreach and education.
“I have been very fortunate to move up so fast but my heart is in the classroom and on camera,” Lea said.
As Lea reflects on her many roles inside and out of the classroom, she said teachers should be curious and always seeking new information to share with students.
“It is the teacher’s curiosity in new things that exudes to the students,” Lea said.
Partner curiosity with technology and Lea loves the comments students make as they realize they are videoconferencing with someone in Houston.
“Technology is so much a part of the students’ lives everywhere that you have to stay one step ahead to make sure that they are still engaging in the curiosity part,” Lea said. “The technology has made them curious about how they are able to do it and then their curiosity is fed with information about science.”
“How awesome is that,” Lea exclaimed.
Ed
Note: Lea is an active member of TxDLA and served on the 2007
Conference Steering Committee as the Entertainment Co-chair.
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