Courtney Black was born in Fort Benning, Georgia and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Florida State University before pursuing a Law Degree from the University of Southampton in Southampton, England. Courtney is an Education Project Manager with the International Space Station National Laboratory. Prior to this position, Courtney spent 14 years teaching. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in three simple principles: build positive relationships, foster an environment of trust and create engaging learning experiences. A self-proclaimed space nerd, Courtney has worked with many organizations and NASA affiliates to bring space education to her classroom. In the fall of 2018, she coordinated her district's first-ever ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) contact, where 21 students from across Lee County spoke to an astronaut live from the International Space Station. She credits much of her success to her fellow space educators for their unwavering support and willingness to collaborate.