Educator Spotlight: Anna Edwards

Anna Edwards, education coordinator for the Iredell Soil and Water Conservation District recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. 

In her role as education coordinator, Anna educates her community on the importance of conserving natural resources. She hopes her efforts to educate others enables them to share their knowledge with others. 

Anna says her favorite part of earning her certification was improving her confidence in teaching. “I've noticed the more confidence I gain in teaching environmental education, the more passionate I become about environmental education.”

When asked what experience stood out for her, Anna says it was the Advanced Air Quality: Ground Level Ozone workshop she took. “I’ve always been intimidated on the topic of air quality, but this workshop gave me the resources to confidently educate others on this topic in multiple interactive, hands-on ways.”

For her community partnership project, Anna installed bird houses at The Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont in Statesville and created a Blue Bird Club with members from the Boys and Girls Club. “Throughout the summer and the schoolyear, the Blue Bird Club will take part in and lead various lessons and activities that focus on our natural world and the conservation of our natural resources.”

Anna says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Participating in the certification program has given me the resources, materials, and personal toolkit to go out and positively make an impact with all ages regarding the conservation and efficient use of our natural resources.”

When asked if the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues, Anna said, “I don't feel that there have been any changes in the way that I think about environmental issues, but I do feel that I know more about environmental issues and have the resources and materials to continue expanding my knowledge and awareness of environmental issues.”