Inspiration Beyond Our Hangar

Written By Beth White

Sharing Our Love of Aviation with Enthusiasts Everywhere

Miranda Gallagher being interviewed by PBS team about her passion for building, flying, and fixing airplanes

Our journey at Habitat for Aviation has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by milestones that resonate far beyond the walls of our hangar. An incredible honor came our way as PBS Newshour's Brief But Spectacular series on the future of education invited us to share our story. A dedicated team, flown in from across the country, spent the day with us, capturing the heart and passion we bring to our work. 

They interviewed Miranda Gallagher and her mother, shedding light on Miranda's inspiring journey from a STEM camp at Franklin County State Airport at age 11 to becoming a vital member of our Women Build Planes team and the EAA Chapter 613 family. The affirmations of our efforts were further celebrated as Bianca Marrier was featured in Inspiring Girls USA's Finding Your Inspiration series, where she explored her experiences as an airplane mechanic with a national audience of young women.

We’ve hosted quite a number of esteemed visitors, and each interaction has further enriched our community, fostering connections and collaborations that extend the reach of our vision for aviation education and gender diversity in the field. We were proud to host Congresswoman Becca Balint, who spent the afternoon visiting not only our hangar but also the EAA Chapter 613’s Taylor Aviation Center and George Coy’s incredible space where a lot of the magic happens. 

Congresswoman Becca Balint and friends visit Habitat for Aviation, EAA Chapter 613, and the hangar of George Coy

Vermont's Lt. Governor, David Zuckerman, was a notable highlight. He seemed inspired by our Women Build Planes team, especially Aubrianna Mayette, who taught him a thing or two about clecos, and gained insights into Ian Bradette's BD-4 project. 

We’ve hosted the magnetic team from Green Mountain Power, friends from BETA Technologies, Gisela and Adam Alpert, folks from the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation, a representative from the U.S. Department of Economic Development, a team of awesome ladies from 100 Women Who Care Franklin County, and others.

If you are interested in visiting and seeing what we’re all about, please reach out!

List of Distinguished Guests to Date

  • Alison Novak, Seven Days

  • Vermont Works for Women

  • Yamuna Turco, Miss Vermont 2023

  • Lt Governor, David Zuckerman

  • PBS Newshour

  • Snap-On

  • Green Mountain Power

  • Vermont Federal Credit Union Kevin Perrish & Erin

  • Congresswoman Becca Balint 

  • Vermont Community Foundation

  • Katherine Trapani, U.S. Department of Economic Development

  • Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation

  • Bernie Sanders Office

Beth White

The great John Dewey believed that we “learn best what we live,”—that individualized, first-hand experiences offer opportunity for individuals to develop deep understandings and interests. For me, an ideal learning environment is where transdisciplinary partnerships support personalized learning. These are places that offer experiences, events, and situations that inform, encourage, and reinforce learners’ self-conceptualizations of future possibilities.

Prior to starting Habitat for Aviation, I worked in a variety of New England schools, including The Met High School in Providence, RI (the “mothership” of the Big Picture Learning Network). After 10 years as a high school teacher, I returned to the classroom and earned a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Vermont.

My first-hand experiences include designing and running advisory programs, supporting democratically-oriented schooling, building service-learning and internship programs, teaching teachers and pre-service educators, and designing and implementing alternative forms of assessment. I love working for Big Picture Learning where I am heavily involved with the Harbor Freight Fellowship Initiative to get youth into the skilled trades and B-Unbound, which connects youth to supportive adults who share their interests.

In the earliest days of my career, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies with New Hampshire teaching certificates in biology and earth and space sciences from Antioch New England University.

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