Educator Spotlight: Rachel Harris

Rachel Harris, an environmental science undergraduate student at Appalachian State University, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Rachel works full-time on hydrology research and enjoys being outdoors in nature. She also likes to make her research accessible to the public through environmental education and outreach.

Rachel says her favorite part of earning her certification was the outdoor experiences, especially the guided hikes. “The program really allowed me to work more in groups and learn through guided instruction.”

When asked what experience stood out for her, Rachel says it was applying what she learned in the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education workshop to her work with K-8 students. “I was better able to teach different age groups, and I started noticing how tweaking a lesson really makes a different to your audience.”

For her community partnership project, Rachel developed labels and scavenger hunts for the Fred Webb Jr. Outdoor Lab and Rock Garden which is part of the McKinney Geology Teaching Museum, a teaching and outreach initiative of the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University. “I noticed we weren't really able to include younger students in the more complex aspect of the garden, so I made educational signs that can be attached to the current signs which allowed the younger students to be introduced to more complex environmental education subjects in a relatable way.”

Rachel says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “The EE Certificate helped me develop teaching strategies to use with different age groups. I feel I was more naturally able to teach older age groups, but through the program, I have started to learn strategies that help me connect with younger ages during environmental education sessions.” As far as environmental issues are concerned, Rachel says the program caused her to consider multiple solutions for different environmental issues.

 

NCDEQ Hosts Local Middle School Students for 14th Annual Statewide Students@Work℠ Program

The Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs recently hosted Moore Square Magnet Middle School 7th Grade for the 2024 Students@Work℠ Month. The Students@Work℠ program serves a critical role in our state's work-based learning efforts by helping students explore potential careers and experience positive workplace environments. 

Each March, Students@Work℠ connects hundreds of North Carolina businesses, organizations and agencies with thousands of students statewide. Throughout the month, students interact directly with representatives from various jobs and careers, take part in worksite visits or engage in learning activities to explore a variety of career opportunities. The program is a joint initiative between the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Governor Roy Cooper has also proclaimed March as Students@Work℠ Month.

“DEQ looks forward to welcoming the students from Moore Square each year, and it is an honor to be  part of the Students@Work℠ program. This is also an opportunity for our staff to provide activities for the students and resources for their teachers that support their studies in science and the environment. We hope this enhances their appreciation for North Carolina's natural environment and inspires some of them to enter careers in the environmental and STEM fields," noted DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. 

Secretary Biser fields some great questions from the Moore Square Magnet Middle School students. 

During their visit, students toured the DEQ building and learned about the sustainable design features of the downtown Raleigh Green Square complex. They also got an introduction to some of the environmental science used by employees of the department in activities led by Amy Pitts, Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach, Division of Energy, Land and Mineral Resources; Rebecca Coppa, State Sedimentation and Education Engineer, Division of Energy, Land and Mineral Resources; Brittany Hall, Environmental Specialist, Division of Air Quality; Janina Millis, Community Engagement, Education and Outreach Specialist, Division of Air Quality; Ella Raff, Environmental Chemist, Division of Air Quality and Laura McCoy, Environmental Specialist, Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service Recycling Programs.

Amy Pitts, Senior Geologist for Education and Outreach, shows students some of the amazing rocks, minerals and even fossils that can be found in downtown Raleigh building facades. 

The students ended their day by participating in a career panels with DEQ employees, including Dr. Tim Ellis, Quantitative Ecologist, Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership; Ella Raff, Environmental Chemist, Division of Air Quality; Steven Rice, Environmental Specialist II, Division of Air Quality; Alyssa Wright, DEQ Assistant General Counsel; Jeff Horton, Western Property Specialist, Division of Mitigation Services and Sara Kreuser, Meteorologist, Division of Air Quality.

Students asked the panel about their careers, their career paths, and challenges for their profession. The DEQ employees gave helpful advice for how to students can connect their passions and interests with potential careers and how students can begin to develop the qualifications necessary for working in STEM fields through internships, job shadowing and other opportunities.

For more information about the Department's participation in Students@Work℠ Month, contact the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs at 919-707-8125. For more information about NCBCE, visit ncbce.org.