Educator Spotlight - Dena Sheets

Dena Sheets, an elementary teaching assistant at Piney Creek School in Alleghany County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Dena has also served as an Envirothon Advisor to middle school students for the last two years. Prior to her teaching position, she worked for the Alleghany Soil and Water Conservation District as an education coordinator where she started the certification program. In her personal time, she likes to spend time with her husband, Dustin, and her daughters, Heidi and Amy on their farm riding ATVs, camping, hiking, and playing in the water, fishing, tubing, or kayaking. She is also an active member of Sparta First Baptist Church.

Dena says her favorite part of earning her certification was meeting people from all regions of the state. “It's nice to see familiar faces when attending trainings, or visiting state parks, but my favorite thing of all about earning my certification is being able to share what I have learned with the students. I hope and pray that I might cultivate interest and passion for the outdoors and for conservation in some of these students.”

When asked about an experience that stood out to her, she says it was the workshop she attended at Carolina Beach State Park. “We walked the trails, found Venus flytraps, and caught crabs in the marsh. Being from the mountains, I had never been on a hike like that. I also enjoyed the workshop at Fort Macon State Park and working in groups to develop imaginary beach developments. Some of us were members of the chamber of commerce. Some of us were members of environmental groups. Some of us were general contractors. It was fun and educational.”

For her community partnership project, Dena did a “From Seed to Plate” educational garden program. “I worked with NC Cooperative Extension and Piney Creek School to enrich lesson plans by providing supplies for teachers and students to be able to start vegetables and fruits inside from seeds, and then eventually we moved those plants outside to raised bed gardens. I believe this project will affect our community by teaching the students that vegetables and fruits don't simply come from stores. I also believe this project may bring awareness to students and adults that anyone can grow vegetables and fruits, not just farmers and large producers.”

Dena says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Through this certification process I have learned that, in my opinion, hands-on is the best approach. I believe learning hands-on helps the students retain what has been taught. I also believe it sparks more interest and gives the students a sense of success because they are doing things with their own hands, through their own hard work.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “My mind has been opened to issues I never considered "environmental issues" before. Participating in workshops such as JEDI and En-ROADS has taught me that our environment is affected by so many factors, not just the weather or physical factors. I have changed my way of thinking about how to teach environmental issues after becoming aware of the fact that some students do not have green spaces at their homes, or at their schools. Factors such as that never crossed my mind before starting this process.”