Part of the 3rd Grade East She Persisted Series

Introduction 

What is your favorite subject in school? Have you ever thought about why you like it so much? Have you ever wondered what kind of career you might get someday that involves your favorite subject. You should meet Katherine Johnson. From the time she was a very little girl Katherine Johnson  loved math. She knew why too. She loved math so much she knew she wanted to be a mathematician.

Early Age

She was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She was the youngest of the children. She loved learning from a young age. She loved to count and do math. When she started school she skipped first and fifth grade. She graduated from high school.

Life as as Adult  

Katherine started working for NASA in 1953 as a research mathematician. She was a valued member of NASA when the agency turned its focus to space exploration in the late 1950’s. 

Accomplishments 

She joined a group of African American women to join NASA when she joined. She  was on a team that sent Friendship 7 to space. She joined the team behind Apollo.

Conclusion  

At the time, NASA briefing meetings were only for men. Katherine Johnson  asked to be included, and she got to join their meetings. She helped make history for the space programmers for women’s rights and racial equality.

“Never did I get up and say I don’t want  to go to work.” 

-Katharine Johnson