On Monday, July 8, newly elected Dallas City Council member Adam Medrano kept his commitment to visit the Frontiers of Flight Museum (FOFM) to hear and learn more about the museum’s highly popular summer enrichment program: Flight School. A former employee of the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation department, Medrano was recently sworn in as the Dallas City council representative for District 2. The FOFM and surrounding communities are within his district. An educator himself, Councilman Medrano, (served seven years on the DISD Board of Trustees and has a background in biology) set out to firmly establish his support of education and educational programs.
Met by Dr. Sharon Spalding, the museum’s education director and Inez Clark, project consultant and coordinator for the FOFM Flight School at Dallas Executive Airport, Council member Medrano was treated to a brief tour of the museum exhibits, which includes more than 25 different aircraft, the educational class rooms and children discovery area and information about the FOFM Living History program. He met interns from El Centro Community College who are also helping out with this summer’s Flight School and Bob Welch, the FOFM education coordinator. The FOFM CEO and President, Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones personally delivered a very special welcome to the newly elected official and extended an invitation for Medrano to host his “town hall” meetings and other gatherings at the FOFM.
Councilmember Medrano expressed his interest in and support for the FOFM Flight School at Dallas Executive Airport. Dr. Spalding shared the fact that due to demand, the museum is just running out of classroom space. Inez Clark noted that Dallas Executive was a logical choice for a satellite program, in that it is located in the southern sector of the City of Dallas which makes it very accessible to youth residing in this area. Many of the young boys and girls in this area are underserved and do not have access to the FOFM which is located at Love Field. Beginning on July 22nd at Dallas Executive, students will fly on flight simulators, learn the Pilot’s Phonetic Alphabet, meet pilots, navigators and aircraft mechanics, visit airport facilities and businesses and create artwork for a colorful Flight School Calendar! These courses are all STEM based (science, technology, engineering and math) and Medrano expressed excitement that this enrichment program has expanded beyond the museum. The FOFM Museum Flight School at Dallas Executive Airport is located near Hwy 67 and Hampton Road and in Councilmember Vonciel Jones- Hill and Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins Dallas City Districts, 3 & 8.
Concerned and caring, Medrano shared his desire to host events at the FOFM for citizens, especially seniors residing in his district in order to learn more about and to better understand their needs. Now in office for less than a month, Councilman Medrano is already “soaring to new heights” in his goals and commitments to see that his District 2 members receive the attention, support and action that is vital to keeping the communities he represent strong, productive and vital.
