Published On: April 27th, 2018By

Aldine ISD High School Student and Teacher Chosen as 2018 National JASON Learning Argonauts

The Argos will head to the Bahamas to experience a week-long adventure with researchers and educators.
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Carver HS junior Keilah South poses with her parents, Michael and Raquel South. Olivia Boatner (far left), magnet school program director, and Xandra Williams-Earlie (far right), program director of secondary science, surprised Keilah with the news that she has been named a National JASON Learning Argonaut. 


Congratulations to Carver HS junior student Keilah South and MacArthur HS science teacher Sean Doyle! They have been selected as Aldine ISD JASON Learning Argonauts. Both will be traveling tot he Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) in the Bahamas this summer.

Keilah, an 11th-grader at the magnet campus, had no idea what to expect when a small crowd of district-level administrators and her parents walked into her classroom. She was nearly in tears as she realized she had been selected as a 2018 Argo.

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Sean Doyle, Aquatic Science Teacher @ MacArthur HS

Just as surprised was Doyle, an aquatic science teacher at “Big” Mac. Both he and Keilah will  work with researchers and educators between June 25-July 2 to study sea turtles. 

One of the most unique and exciting features of JASON Learning’s comprehensive approach to transforming K-12 STEM teaching and learning is the “Argonaut Program.” JASON’s Student and Teacher Argonauts — named after the band of explorers in Greek mythology who accompanied Jason in his quest to find the Golden Fleece — travel to research locations around the world to work side-by-side with scientists and engineers, many of whom they’ve come to know through JASON’s curricula.

Chevron sponsors the JASON Learning program at more than 10 Houston-area school districts, including Aldine ISD. Funding provided by Chevron assures that all travel is covered for Houston-area Argos. This includes lodging, food, programming and equipment costs.


Chevron-Logo-12018 U.S. Expeditions

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Joshua Tree National Park: Desert Ecology[/li] [li]Catalina Island: Marine Ecology [/li][/ul]

2018 International  Expeditions

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Cape Eleuthera Island, Bahamas: Sea Turtles[/li] [li]Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua: Geology & Ecology [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Amazon Rainforest, Peru: TBD[/li][/ul]

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Aldine ISD 2017 JASON Learning Argonauts Chirmekia Washington (forefront) and Diego Garza’s (writing data) expedition took them to Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba, Canada. Diego is a student at Victory Early College HS. Washington teaches life science at Plummer MS (click here to read more).


In doing so, the Argos become the eyes and ears for their peers back home, experiencing firsthand what it’s like to pursue a STEM career, sharing that knowledge when they return to their local communities, and making critical real-world connections to the STEM topics they’ve learned about in the JASON classroom curricula. Returning Argonauts are recognized as STEM role models in their communities.

The Argonaut expedition is an incredible adventure and can be a true life-changing experience for participating students and teachers. As such, each spot on the team is highly coveted. Every year students and teachers apply for the program through JASON, competing against their peers around the world for the chance to be on the next JASON Argonaut team.

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Diego Garza (front and center) in the field with other Argos and researchers in Manitoba, Canada.

Each Student and Teacher Argonaut applies through a highly competitive and rigorous selection process, submitting an extensive array of background information, and most importantly, enthusiasm for science.

A committee of JASON staff, educators, and school administrators familiar with the program score the applications and make the final team selections.

Argonauts collaborate with the JASON team to document and share their expedition experiences with their communities back home and others throughout the world through a mix of photos, videos, blogs, and live events. Expeditions are shared via social media and the JASON website, generating awareness and excitement about their adventures.

Chevron will host a reception honoring the 2018 Houston Area JASON Learning Argonauts on May 24 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board Room (10300 Jones Rd., Houston, TX 77063). Individuals interested in attending the reception must RSVP (click here).

Since the founding of JASON over 29 years ago, more than 600 students and teachers have participated in the Argonaut Program.

Enjoy your summer adventure!



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JASON Learning Argos catch and tag sharks in the Bahamas.

The JASON Project connects students to real science and exploration. The goal is to inspire them to pursue careers in the STEM fields. AISD unveiled the curriculum in 2012-2013, the result of more than a $250,000 grant from Chevron.
Read about the AISD 2013 JASON Argos.
Read about the AISD 2015 JASON Argos.
Read about the AISD 2016 JASON Argos.
Read about the AISD 2017 JASON Argos.

See pictures from JASON Learning 2017 Argos Diego Garza and Chirmekia Washington taken during their expedition to Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba, Canada.

About the Author: Leticia Fehling

Director of Internal Communications