ALTON — Jessica Foersterling, a fifth-grade teacher at St. Mary's School in Alton, has been selected as one of Challenger Learning Centers "Inspiring Teachers."

Nominated by a fellow teacher as someone who inspires her students, to pursue a lifelong engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Foersterling and other honorees were recognized in St. Louis on Jan. 28, which was the 30th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Challenger and its crew.

St. Mary's fifth-grade students have spent the last three years travelling to the Challenger Center in St. Louis to take a simulated trip into space. Before their visit, the students study the various roles of the astronauts which include STEM activities and all are given a specific role to play on the shuttle. Foersterling also immerses her students in such studies as the Alaskan Iditarod by teaching her students about the grueling dog race, and each student chooses a musher to follow throughout the event.