Daredevil skydiver to visit Valley View pupils ; Joe Kittinger holds the record for the highest parachute jump in history.

Jill Weaver, a Valley View Middle School science teacher, wasborn the same year Joe Kittinger jumped out of a balloon nearly103,000 feet above New Mexico.

Often called "the first man in space," Kittinger holds the recordfor the highest parachute jump.

Because pressurization failed in his right glove on the ascent,his hand swelled to twice its normal size. Kittinger also recordedman's highest balloon ascent, longest drogue-fall and the fastestspeed a man has fallen through the atmosphere.

"I've been fascinated with space ever since I was a kid," saidWeaver. And whenever teachers got together to talk space studies, "Iwas at it," she laughed.

A couple of summers ago, when Judith Wehn, an aerospace educatorwith the Air Force Museum, and Betty Darst, adjunct professor atWright State University, suggested a workshop Weaver might enjoy,she jumped at the chance.

"The keynote speaker was Joe Kittinger," Weaver said. "I couldn'tbelieve it."

One of the projects her sixth-grade students complete each yearis to make hot air balloons out of paper. Kittinger, of course, fitperfectly into the line of study.

"So I heard him speak and met his wife," Weaver said. Things justclicked.

"She (Sherry) and I communicate on a pretty regular basis," shesaid.

Last year, Weaver asked if Kittinger might interact with herclass via Skype -- a software application that allows users to makephone and video calls through the Internet.

"He was like no problem," Weaver said.

What did the kids want to know? Joe's age, whether he was worriedsomeone might break his record, what was it like jumping out of aballoon and what did he think about on the way down.

Again this year Weaver asked whether Kittinger would follow upwith another Skype call. "Sherry said, well that's not a problem,but he wants to come to your classroom," Weaver said.

The face-to-face meeting might come in April. The schedules arestill being coordinated. Kittinger, 82, lives in Florida. Weaverwould like Kittinger to be here for her students annual balloonlaunch.

A balloon manufacturer, Gentle Breeze, has offered to have atethered balloon on site. Weaver will stage an essay contest withthe top three winners getting a ride.

Weaver's in her third year at Valley View Middle School and her10th year teaching. She attended the Space Academy in 2006 and isapplying for Advanced Space Academy.

Getting her class to think big is a part of her job. Recently,she's watched cell phones being launched to the edge of space in ...balloons.

And though that project may be a stretch, Weaver admits with asmile, "We have been thinking about it."