Archives: Events

Join us on Thursday, June 25 at 8 p.m. for Ask an Educator LIVE with Dr. Pilar Mejía, Principal at Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary. The session is hosted by the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center on Facebook. Dr. Mejía will discuss setting up for success at home, including safety, schedules, expectations, how to support children at home and emotional well-being. She will take your questions live!

Dr. Mejía has been with Topeka Public Schools since 2004, where she has served as an instructional coach for teachers of English Learners, the dual language coordinator and assistant principal at Scott Dual Language Magnet, principal at Highland Park Central Elementary, and currently principal at Scott Dual Language Magnet. Dr. Mejía earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Washburn University, her masters degree in education from the University of Kansas, and her doctorate of educational leadership from Kansas State University. She was named one of Topeka’s top 20 Under 40 in 2011, Elementary School Principal of the Year in 2019 and in 2020. Dr. Mejía is a published author in the article category, and was instrumental in helping lead Scott Dual Language Elementary as it became the first bilingual magnet school in Topeka, as well as the only school in Kansas that has won the School of the Year Excellence in Education Award granted by the Embassy of Spain in 2015, an award given to schools in the United States that show excellence in content and language integrated learning programs in English and Spanish.

Join us on Thursday, June 25 at 10 a.m. for Ask a Rocket Engineer LIVE with Tony Castilleja, Boeing Engineer, Space Launch System Rocket. The session is hosted by the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center on Facebook with generous sponsorship from Bartlett & West. Tony will discuss his experiences as a rocket engineer and take your questions live!

Tony is a member of the Global Sales & Marketing Team for Human Spaceflight Systems at Boeing. Tony’s focus areas include the Space Launch System for Deep Space Exploration, and the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for Low Earth Orbit. He serves as Campaign lead in the Launch Products & Services Market in support of Boeing Government and Commercial Customers. With more than 10 years in Aerospace, he has worked in areas of Propulsion Systems on the Space Shuttle program, Mission Control Support, Human Factors and Training Systems for Starliner, Affordability, Program Integration, Systems Engineering, and International Business support. He is an advocate for STEM Workforce development in the US and in Global campaigns, having achieved National Recognition from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and Great Minds in STEM. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University where he serves as honorary staff in support of the DREAM: Achievement through Mentorship STEM Program he co-founded in 2007.

Join us on Thursday, June 24 at noon for Ask the Pediatricians LIVE with Sara Nelson, MD and Eleni Grammatikopoulou, MD from our generous sponsors and supporters at Pediatric Associates. The session is hosted by the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center on Facebook as part of the Discovery Baby program. Dr. Nelson and Dr. Grammatikopoulou will discuss a few things all parents need to know this summer, and take your questions live!

Join us on Thursday, May 21 at 10 a.m. for a live chat about airplanes with Kim Burton, engineer at Textron Aviation. Kim is an electrical engineer and pilot who has worked in avionics developing electrical systems for new and existing planes. She currently works as a customer service engineer helping people learn how to use and improve aircraft. Kim loves sharing the world of engineering with kids! Learn all about how airplanes are made, and ask Kim your questions live! Tune in at https://www.facebook.com/kansaschildrensdiscoverycenter

Friday, May 22 from Discovery at Home: It’s baby yoga live at 10 a.m. with local yoga instructor Kathy Damron, Morgan Wallace and baby Liam! BYOB (baby) and tune in on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kansaschildrensdiscoverycenter/

Ten-year-old presidential expert, Kansan, and frequent Ellen DeGeneres guest Macey Hensley talks to the Discovery Center on Wednesday, May 13 at 10 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube! Tune in to hear this cool Kansas kid talk about her favorite at-home activities, future plans, and ideas for the Discovery Center. Find cool things you can do at home to imagine, discover and dream just like Macey at https://kansasdiscovery.org/home/

Join us on Thursday, April 23 at 10 a.m. for a live chat with Kristine Davis, spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center! Kristine works to develop the technology to enable the next generation suit technology. She is the component owner for the Helmet, Extravehicular Visor Assembly (EVVA), and waist assembly for the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU). One of her special interests is STEM education, and she loves talking with kids about her work! Learn all about how spacesuits are made, and ask Kristine your questions live! Tune in at https://www.facebook.com/kansaschildrensdiscoverycenter

Join us for a special live trivia event for the whole family! The Discovery Center team has 25 trivia questions perfect for all ages, exploring science, technology, engineering, art and math! Tune in in Tuesday, April 14 at 11 a.m. on our Facebook page to play live, or tune in later to play along with the video! Good luck!

Join us live with Chris Foshee from Worlds of Fun for a Q&A about the science of roller coasters! Tune in on Tuesday, April 7 at 10 a.m. for serious fun with Chris and engineer Caitlin Luttjohann, Director of STEAM Education at the Discovery Center. Learn about how roller coasters are made, operated and maintained, and ask your questions live! Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kansaschildrensdiscoverycenter/