* guest speakers subject to change
JACKIE BLUMER
CEO, STEM4U2; Educator Ambassador, Limitless Space Institute (LSI) and Air & Space Forces Association (AFA)
Cape Canaveral, Bastrop & Brownsville Week 1
With over 25 years of experience, Jackie Blumer is a Nationally Board Certified educator, 2024 AFA Illinois State Teacher of the Year, and CEO of STEM4U2, an aerospace STEM outreach organization. As the St. Louis K-12 STEM coordinator for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and an Educator Ambassador for LSI and AFA, she specializes in high-energy aerospace science education. Jackie also serves ARISS-USA and is excited to return as a Guide of the Galaxy for Camp BTX 2026.
MEGAN TUCKER
Cape Canaveral & Bastrop
With over 21 years in education, National Board Certified educator Megan Tucker has developed national aerospace and STEM curricula for organizations including the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). She has been recognized nationally as the AFA STEM Teacher of the Year (2021) and the CAP Teacher of the Year (2011) as well as being an AIAA Educator Foundation Awardee. A recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the National Aviation Hall of Fame Aerospace Educator of the Year (2023), she specializes in aerospace-focused, hands-on learning. Megan is passionate about using "tools, not toys" technology to cultivate a growth mindset, guiding young scholars through real-world, 21st-century problem-solving that makes innovation both rigorous and fun.
Claudia Cortez
Cape Canaveral, Bastrop & Brownsville Week 1
An Engineer by profession with 17 years of education experience, Claudia Cortez has been teaching CTE Engineering courses for high school students in Brownsville ISD. She is a Limitless Space Institute Education Ambassador and Space Foundation Liaison, with a diverse professional background in engineering education. Her students have competed in NASA HUNCH, Technology Student Association and VEX Robotics competitions earning regional, state and national achievements. As a highly recognized educator, she is the 2025 BISD Teacher of the Year and a Texas TIA Exemplary Teacher, known for her dedication to expanding equitable STEM opportunities and preparing students for future careers in engineering and technology
KIRBY RUNYON
Brownsville Week 2
Dr. Kirby Runyon is a life-long space cadet and loves sharing his passion about the Moon and planets with everyone. In Dr. Kirby's research as a NASA-funded research scientist in planetary geology, he maps the Moon, does zero-gravity experiments in impact cratering, and was even the first person to discover mountains on Pluto as part of the New Horizons mission. Dr. Kirby also leads planetary geology expeditions to New Mexico where teachers, students, astronauts, and enthusiasts can explore the Moon, Mars, and other planets in person--without leaving Earth. In fact, that's the topic of his upcoming book titled, "How to Vacation in Space Without Leaving Earth." Dr. Kirby has been a CampBTX Guide of the Galaxy since 2024 and lives in Washington, DC.
JENNY MCCALL
Cape Canaveral, Bastrop & Brownsville Week 1
McCall specializes in high-impact, project-based STEM learning that connects students to real-world space science and engineering. Her work over the past two decades includes student-driven research in infrared astronomy inspired by her role as a NASA SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador, microgravity fluid dynamics investigations connected to NASA lunar exploration systems, and participation in NASA citizen science initiatives that elevate student voice and scientific identity. She was recently honored as a Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative Innovative Educator, and Teacher of the Year at Winburn Middle School.
HERIBERTO REYNOSO
Bastrop & Brownsville
Heriberto is a robotics educator, software engineer, and founder of Reybotics, a South Texas company preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers through hands-on STEM. His journey began with a fascination for building robots from scratch using limited tools, curiosity, and persistence. That passion later led him to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he worked on software for satellites, lunar robotic arms, and the Perseverance Mars rover. Through Reybotics, Heriberto brings robotics, coding, engineering design, AI, and space-themed challenges to students across Texas. Reybotics also designs and manufactures educational STEM hardware used by school districts, helping campers build confidence, practical skills, and readiness for future careers.
AUSTIN TINKERING
Bastrop, Brownsville Week 2
Austin Tinkering School is a hands-on maker camp and creative learning community where kids build real projects using tools, wood, electronics, art materials, and their imaginations. Through open-ended tinkering experiences, campers develop creativity, confidence, problem-solving skills, and a sense of independence while bringing their ideas to life. Programs are designed to empower kids to learn by doing in a supportive, playful, and deeply engaging environment. Think Make Craft Create Design Iterate TINKER!
Veronica Davila
Brownsville
Veronica Davila is an engineer, educator, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in engineering, technology, leadership, and STEM education. She holds degrees in Computer Systems Engineering and Business Administration and previously led global engineering teams at GE Aviation. Today, Veronica serves as Director of CREATECH Education and Center Director of Stemtree Brownsville, where she inspires the next generation through hands-on STEM learning. A recipient of Stemtree’s Franchise of the Year and Growth Awards, she is passionate about helping young people develop curiosity, creativity, and the confidence to solve real-world challenges.
Sarah Sonnett
Brownsville Week 2
Dr. Sarah Sonnett has always been fascinated by space and has spent the past 20 years studying the small things like asteroids and comets in our solar system. In her NASA-funded research, she uses telescopes to help figure out how our solar system formed, how Earth got its oceans, and what will happen to our solar system in the future. Dr. Sarah is very honored to have an asteroid named after her for her work in solar system science! She also has almost a decade of research experience in planetary defense - searching for and measuring sizes of nearby asteroids that might one day hit Earth. Dr. Sarah also has a passion for talking about and teaching science and just finished a 3-year position teaching in the Physics & Astronomy Department at the College of Charleston in her home town of Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Sarah is excited to talk with new space enthusiasts at CampBTX!