State board chair rides in Iditarod

AUSTIN (KXAN) - One State Board of Education chair is taking the reins of a different kind Sunday.

SBOE Chair Barbara Cargill will participate in Sunday’s Iditarod race as part of a dog-sled team.

Cargill will ride with mushers during the first 14-miles during the ceremonial launch of the 1.049-mile race across Alaska.

The race starts in Anchorage where thousands of people are expected to line the streets [official start of race begins in the town of Willow].

Cargill, an educator from The Woodlands who runs a science camp that attracts more than 1,300 children each summer, was invited to present Thursday at the 2013 Iditarod Winter Conference for Educators

Her presentation focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and related the activities to the race.

“For example,” she said, “we turned on a blow dryer, pointed it upward, and predicted what would happen if a ping pong ball was placed in the stream of air.  It floats and hovers over the blow dryer due to the low pressure created by the rushing air.  This applies to the lead dogs in the race, especially on windy days or during storms. Those two dogs push through the air first, thus creating lower pressure behind them.”

“With a teacher's creativity and knowledge, lessons in any subject can be adapted in a way that engages children and allows them to predict, engage in hands-on experimentation, and draw conclusions.  That makes it more real for the children and the room becomes alive with excitement about learning,” Cargill said.

Cargill also had the opportunity this week to meet with Jim Merriner, chair of the Alaska State Board of Education, and discuss educational issues.