The simulator is run on very complex software and is not easily mastered. A "Flight Director" is the teacher who not only operates the computers that run the simulations, they are also part actor, part technology wizard and part stage director.  Shaler's flight Directors are Mrs. Heather Oros and Mr. Michael Penn.

Heather Oros has been teaching since 2001 and at Shaler Area School District since 2006. Over the years she has taught 5th Grade, Reading Intervention, and currently serves as the Teacher of the Gifted and the Activites Director for SAES.

At Shaler Area Elementary School her role is to develop and provide enrichment opportunities for 4th-6th grade students in the classroom. To enhance the learning experience some of her time is spent as Flight Director for the IKS Titan where students take an active role in their learning by being immersed in an engaging and exciting learning environment.

Mike Penn started his teaching career first in Kindergarten, then “severely and profoundly” handicapped children, and then has been living the dream of his calling teaching Gifted students at Shaler Area School District for the past twenty-six years.

Successfully teaching gifted and talented students has a way of making one flexible, positive, dynamic, and innovative. While Mike won’t admit to any of those qualities, he sure aspires to all of them!

Mike likes to think of himself as someone who is a work in progress. He loves his vocation and the kids he teaches and he is serious about getting students to LOVE learning as a lifelong adventure.