Educator Spotlight: Monique Mckoy

Monique Mckoy, a Schools in Parks Specialist with NC State Parks, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Monique works with local teachers to develop programming for them at the park and gives them resources to take back to their classroom. She also assists with interpretation and education programs at the park including field trips and public programming.

Monique says her favorite part of the certification was the networking and programs. “I enjoyed getting out and meeting other educators and gaining new strategies and ideas that would make me a better educator. I also enjoyed the diversity of programming offered through the certification program. There were so many topics to learn about and unique ways to bring them back to my site.”

When asked about an experience in the program that stood out for her, she says it’s hard to choose one experience. “I feel they all taught me something new and allowed me to have a unique experience that I otherwise would not have had. The teaching aspect of the certification was really impactful for me. When I first started, it was a little nerve-racking. A lot of mistakes were made, but as time has gone by, I've learned from those mistakes and become more comfortable. Mistakes will always be made but now I have enough knowledge to figure out solutions.”

For her community partnership project, Monique worked with the Bladen County Public Library to create monthly displays on different environmental topics. “Each month I created a reading list with books that people could check out at the library to learn a little bit more about the different topics. I shared facts and information as well as provided handouts like coloring sheets, puzzles or activities for people to take. To further establish a connection to the selected topic, I participated in story times at the library or hosted programs here at the park. We are even planning to continue these lists and collaborating on programs in the future.”

Monique says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Participating in the certification taught me to appreciate the "non scripted" moments that often happen during programs. It's perfectly OK to stop and let the attention go to something cool that's happening in nature. It's the reason why most of us environmental educators are so passionate!”

The program also changed the way Monique views environmental issues. “I always try to keep an open mind and listen to all sides of an issue. The most important thing when teaching about such issues is to provide listeners with that same mindset. We are not to lead people to think something specific but to give them all the necessary information for them to form their own opinion.”

Educator Spotlight: Leah Purvis

Leah Purvis, an environmental educator with Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. In her role, Leah manages educational contests including Envirothon and the Annual Conservation Poster Contest for Wake County students, visits schools to provide programs on soil and water conservation topics, and manages scholarship programs for high school and college students pursuing careers in conservation. She also provides educators with resources to teach about soil and water conservation."

When asked about her favorite part of the program Leah says it was networking. “I enjoyed visiting a variety of locations and meeting other educators working in different roles. I also really enjoyed my community partnership project, which has resulted in a long-term partnership that will last way beyond the project itself.”

The Investigating Your Environment workshop that lasted a week was the experience that stood out for Leah. “It was a great way to get to know other educators, learn about different methods of teaching environmental education, and spend time in a different part of the state as well! I enjoyed many other workshops too.”

For her community partnership project, Leah worked with an elementary school. “I designed and set-up two outdoor container ponds for Millbrook Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary school using local materials and native flora and fauna. The community that benefits from this project is the students, teachers, and supporting staff of the school. The ponds provide enriching experiences for students, where they can see first-hand what local native aquatic habitats look like, how to measure water quality, and practice skills like observation, data collection, art, communication and much more."

Leah says participating in the program changed her approach to teaching others. “Participating in the certification program inspired me to use a wider variety of tools to engage students in outdoor settings and in hands-on ways. It also inspired me to make my teaching more student-centered, collaborative, and accessible to a variety of learners using universal design principles.”

Leah also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “I think about environmental issues with more hope than before. Environmental education  doesn't seek to change people's minds or sway politics, but to simply increase awareness about what is going on and how to solve problems. It's about empowering people to make informed decisions rather than influence their decisions one way or another.”

Educator Spotlight: Mawadda Almasri

Mawadda Almasri, a nonformal educator in Mecklenburg County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification and began a new career as an education specialist at the Carolina Raptor Center. In this new role, she will be designing and delivering bird programs, taking care of and training the raptors, and helping with interns and volunteers. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, exploring hiking trails, birding, playing chess and reading.

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Mawadda said it was the teaching component. “I completed most of my teaching during my time as an educator at Agape Center for Environmental Education which is an incredible place to work! I loved being outdoors and teaching the students about the wonders of our natural world. Seeing them get excited about animals, asking thoughtful questions, and having a great time! The teaching hours helped me put what I learned from the environmental education workshops and courses into practice and allowed me to gain teaching experience to make me a more confident educator. With the guidance from the other educators at Agape, I was able to learn how to present the programs, manage the students and keep them engaged and find my own personal teaching style.”

Mawadda says the course she took with the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) was the experience that stood out to her as the most impactful. "The course, Framing the Conversation, is an introductory course on shifting climate conversations and messaging to be more positive, civic-minded, and solutions focused. I took the course back in 2021 when I was an AmeriCorps member at the North Carolina Zoo and just starting my certification. It was a tool that the zoo wanted me to have in order to help them build their climate change programming. I enjoyed participating in the course, and by the end of it, I had acquired helpful tools and resources that assisted me in creating an effective climate change program. Since then, I've been an active NNOCCI member, and I've also worked as a teacher assistant for those same courses. I plan to continue being involved in the NNOCCI community, participating in the climate sector, and advocating for climate action.”

When asked if the certification program led to any changes in her approach to teaching, she said it helped shape her teaching. “I started the certification during my AmeriCorps service, which was my first job out of college, so I didn't have a personal teaching style or any experience teaching at that time. Participating in the certification allowed me to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a great environmental educator. The Methods of Teaching Environmental Education was a great workshop that taught me how to address an audience outdoors and to ensure they can hear and see me well, are comfortable during the program and are engaged with the material. Many of the workshops I participated in during the four years added on to these teaching tools, such as the Certified Interpretive Guide Training. That training was especially helpful in teaching me how to create an engaging and informative program. These workshops and training have given me the confidence to develop programs that are intriguing, age-appropriate, relevant and that inspire the audience to help with conservation efforts.”

Mawadda says the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues giving her a big picture of how human development has impacted the planet. “The workshops and courses have made me realize how interconnected our ecosystems are and how sensitive they are to changes in the environment, and therefore, how important it is to protect and preserve all ecosystems and all wildlife. And while this newfound awareness of the state of our planet does make me sad and upset at times, when I see and talk to the people working in these different fields I feel hopeful again. Their contagious passion inspires me to continue working in environmental education and be an advocate for change. There are so many environmental issues but there are also so many of us working on them. With our collective effort, we can make a difference for our planet, ourselves, and future generations.”