Sara English recently completed the N.C. Environmental
Education Certification Program and credits the program with helping her move her education career in a new direction.
When English began the program, she was working as a high
school biology teacher. She now works in nonformal education as a program
specialist at the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia and as an
adjunct biology teacher at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. “I started as the
environmental educator at the Schiele, but have recently moved into aboriginal
cultures specialist position focusing on Native Americans, specifically here in
the Southeastern United States. It has been great to combine my new position
with what I have learned as an environmental educator because the two topics
are so interconnected.”
English says one of her favorite parts of the program was
getting to travel to new parks and environmental education centers in North
Carolina. She also enjoyed the workshops and getting to meet so many
interesting people.
When asked about an experience that stands out for her, she is quick to say there are so many good experiences but recalled one workshop in
particular. “Probably the best experience was the Project WILD workshop I took
with Tanya Poole as one of my first workshops ever. It was then I realized that
I really could have a career doing the things I loved like being outside,
hiking and enjoying wildlife and not only that, but I could share it with
others! It really opened by eyes to a new way of thinking and a new life for
myself.”
English feels that the program influenced her approach to
teaching. “It is the hands-on experiences that have really stuck with me.
Getting up, going outside, doing things is so much more meaningful than sitting
in a classroom and listening. They both have their perks but the hands-on
experiences provide mental stimulation and it also provides you with a personal
connection and stronger memory of the topic. I try to incorporate hands-on
experiences with every program or workshop that I facilitate.”
When she isn’t working, English enjoys being outside anywhere with her dog and significant other. She loves science of all kinds, plays drums in a silly garage rock band called Solar Cat, and loves to read books, both fiction and nonfiction.
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