eDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
When I am leading students, I try to be a facilitator rather than a lecturer. My goal is to allow students to direct their own learning. I seek to draw questions, excitement, and a sense of wonder out of others, so that we can explore and make discoveries together.
Educational Partnerships and programs
I have extensive experience developing successful educational partnerships with schools. During graduate school and during my time with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, I engaged local schools in environmental education through repeat visits..
I have also designed and taught lessons and curriculum for all age groups from pre-school to adults. I have experience teaching diverse subject matters including nature journaling, writing, reading, science, geography, math, and history. Please click on the image to learn more about the educational partnerships and lessons that I have established.
I have also designed and taught lessons and curriculum for all age groups from pre-school to adults. I have experience teaching diverse subject matters including nature journaling, writing, reading, science, geography, math, and history. Please click on the image to learn more about the educational partnerships and lessons that I have established.
Community relations and public programs
I have developed public programs to engage families and members of the community on the weekends and evenings. At Neal Smith NWR, I developed an interpretive program plan for the Visitor Center including many new monthly programs. All of the programs were well attended and often included repeat visitors. While working at Ottawa NWR and the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, I led weekly programs for elementary age students during the summer. During college, I worked at the Okeeheelee Nature Center in South Florida and I designed and led interpretive lessons for summer camp participants daily. My implementations at all of these places of employment drastically increased visito-rship numbers and community support and engagement.
Working with partners
I feel very comfortable working with partner organizations and stakeholders to further a mission. For example, I have developed strong partnership with Boy and Girls Scouts of America, Friends of NWRs, after-school programs, conservation organizations, and other local city, county, and state entities to offer educational opportunities, special events, and to promote my places of employment. Additionally, during my experiences with non-profits such at 4-H and Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, I worked hard to engage local businesses and stakeholders with fundraising events and opportunities.
Presentations and workshops
I have lead and co-led many teacher workshops including Project Wild workshops, science inquiry workshops, and curriculum writing workshops. I have also developed a three day workshop to train teachers on how to use outdoor classrooms to instruct their students. Each year the workshop is at full capacity and many teachers report back that it is one of the most meaningful workshops they have taken. I have presented about environmental education at many conferences including for Iowa's Area Education Agency, the Iowa Prairie Conference, the League of Environmental Educators in Florida, and the Green Schools Summit.
Student work
Please click on the picture to see examples of students' journal entries.