Educator Spotlight: Morgan Pope

Morgan Pope, an Administrative Support Specialist with Harnett Soil and Water Conservation District, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Morgan works with other staff on the educational programming such as Envirothon. “Our Envirothon competition is probably my most favorite! We primarily work with local farmers and landowners to help implement best management practices for their farm or land to help mitigate erosion and sediment control.”

Morgan says she enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people while completing the program. “My favorite part about earning my certification was meeting people all across the state, learning how our soils and lands differ and working together by building new relationships, sharing ideas and collaborating with others all for a common goal.”

When asked if there was an experience that stood out to her, Morgan says it was the passion shared by the presenters. “The classes I attended were filled with knowledge and a true understanding and love for the natural environment. The presenters were wonderful.”

For her community partnership project, Morgan partnered with Keep Harnett Beautiful to create a litter sweep. “What started as a bi-annual litter sweep for the county, has now developed into the need for a full-time litter sweep coordinator. I started this initiative in the spring of 2022 and had around 120 participants. Fast forward to NOW, from January 2026 through May 2026 we have had over 750 volunteers... The community has stepped up, volunteered and has helped increase awareness of the harm litter causes our natural resources.”

Morgan says the program helped her understand there are different methods to educate your audiences. “Not all ways work for everyone but taking the time to get to know the audience helps decipher which way work best.” She also says the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. “I have a deeper understand of the natural resources around us and I feel more confident in teaching current and future stewards of our lands.”

Educator Spotlight: Katie Frederick

Katie Frederick, a small business owner in Johnston County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Katie is an entrepreneur who is passionate about building community, storytelling and connecting people with the outdoors.

Katie runs a small business consulting company that assists customers with recruiting, administrative tasks and website design and a photography business, where her work focuses heavily on wildlife, travel and outdoor adventure photography. “I lead a family-style trail and nature journal community that offers community hikes for families, women’s international adventure trips, outdoor photography workshops, and environmental education programs for youth. Beyond my own businesses, I serve as an ambassador for a large women’s community in North Carolina and volunteer as a trail guide with Triangle Land Conservancy. At the heart of everything I do is a desire to inspire curiosity, conservation, adventure and meaningful human connection through nature and shared experiences.”

Katie says one of her favorite parts of earning her certification was connecting with so many like-minded people who share a passion for environmental education, conservation and getting others outdoors. “The program also gave my family and me the opportunity to explore new places, discover different outdoor themes and spend meaningful time together in nature. In many ways, the process helped me reconnect with an important part of my past and professional journey. Before becoming a full-time entrepreneur, I worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as an Environmental Specialist and Source Water Protection Specialist, where I assisted communities and stakeholders with wellhead and watershed management plans to help protect drinking water sources. Stepping back into the environmental education world has felt like coming full circle and has reignited my passion for stewardship, conservation and community education.”

The certification experience that stands out most for Katie was the Southern Appalachian Birds program at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Although my original naturalist skills class was postponed, the pre-course reading introduced me to nature journaling, which quickly became a new passion. I have completed the coursework for my Nature Journal Educator Certification and am now awaiting my practicum. Nature journaling also helped me overcome limiting beliefs about my artistic abilities and sparked a new love for drawing and creative observation. I’m excited to continue this journey and eventually pursue my Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification as well.”

Katie collaborated with Triangle Land Conservancy on her community partnership project. Triangle Land Conservancy hosts a public event, Wild Ideas, each year that brings in 300 community members and experts to share ideas and explore solutions to local environmental challenges. Katie introduced nature journaling to attendees, and she says it encouraged deeper connections with the outdoors through observation and creativity. “The experience was incredibly rewarding and showed how accessible and engaging nature journaling can be for people of all ages and experience levels. As a direct result of the event, I was inspired to launch our own Nature Journal Club to continue building community around outdoor exploration and creativity. The project has already created additional opportunities, with several homeschool organizations I connected with during the event reaching out about hosting nature journaling programs for their groups.”

Katie says that participating in the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “Participating in the program significantly shaped the way I approach teaching and engaging others outdoors. What began as a desire to learn more about my adopted home state of North Carolina evolved into a deeper passion for helping youth develop their own naturalist skills and connection to nature. After my oldest child started attending public school, I realized that much of my own love for the outdoors and science had been fostered outside of a traditional classroom setting by my parents, who were science teachers and scientists by profession. It made me recognize that not every child has access to those same experiences or mentors encouraging curiosity, exploration and environmental stewardship. Because of this, my approach has become much more focused on creating accessible, hands-on experiences that inspire wonder, observation and confidence in the outdoors for children and families alike. As a result, I’ve added an element of education into all our community hikes as well as offering specific environmental education programs.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “Participating in the certification program expanded my perspective on environmental issues by highlighting how deeply conservation is connected to education and personal experience in nature. While my background focused on environmental protection and watershed management, this program shifted my thinking toward the importance of building early, meaningful connections to the outdoors. I now see environmental education as a key driver of long-term stewardship because people protect what they understand and feel connected to. It also reinforced the need to make environmental learning accessible, hands-on and engaging for all ages and communities.”

Educator Spotlight: Krista Roa

Krista Roa, director of Environmental Education at the Agape Center for Environmental Education in Fuquay-Varina, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

Krista works with K-8 students and leads programs for students throughout central North Carolina on topics such as water quality, animal adaptations, ecosystems, tree identification and many more. In her personal time, Krista enjoys being outdoors. “I love to kayak, paddleboard and volunteer with my sons' scout troops. With the little free time that I do have, I love to crochet, and watch movies.”

Krista says her favorite part of earning her certification was a trip she went on with her son and his scout troop to several national parks, which allowed her to participate in several activities. “We attended ranger talks about the ecosystem of Arches National Park and the mules of the Grand Canyon and went on a guided tour of the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park.”

When asked about an experience that stood out to her, Krista says it was meeting other educators. “I enjoyed networking with others in the field. It was really great to get to know new people and make friends that I can collaborate with.”

For her community partnership project, Krista built new platforms on a pond that is used for collecting water samples during field trip programs. She worked with her son and members of his scout troop to replace the platforms that were rotting and too small for a group of students to use. “The new platform made it possible for more students to collect samples for the water quality and the pond macroinvertebrates programs. The larger platforms provide a safe collecting site and also allow more students to collect at one time.”

Krista says the program led to changes in her approach to teaching. “I've become much more aware of the language I use in my programs. I've worked really hard to use language that is more inclusive and accepting of differences since I've been in the certification program. The Methods of Teaching Environmental Education course facilitated by Environmental Educators of North Carolina was extremely helpful because it gave me some in-depth background knowledge about the history of environmental education.”

The certification program also changed the way Krista thinks about environmental issues. “Since starting this certification program, I've begun looking at the different angles that each environmental issue could involve. There are so many different perspectives that come into play, and part of being a good educator is taking as many of them into account as you can. Giving people the best information I'm able to give so that they can make decisions that are beneficial to them and to others has become one of my central goals.”

DEQ’s Janina Millis Recognized for Earning the State’s Environmental Education Certification

Janina Millis and Lori Davis 

Janina Millis, the NC Air Awareness Program Coordinator for the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Division of Air Quality, was recognized Friday for completing her NC Environmental Education Certification. The award was a full circle moment for Janina and her mentor Lori Davis, who is the Education Coordinator for the NC Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve. 

Lori supervised Janina when she was a DEQ intern with the NC Coastal Reserve in 2017. Today Janina is a full-time educator at DEQ participating in one of Lori’s professional development workshops for educators called Teachers on the Estuary at the Rachel Carson Coastal Reserve. “It has been an honor to mentor Janina and watch her grow as an environmental educator,” Lori said. “I’m so proud to call her a friend and a colleague, and to continue working together to promote environmental education in our state.”

“We are so fortunate to have outstanding educators like Lori and Janina teaching students about the importance of our state’s estuaries, clean air and other environmental topics,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “Janina’s success story demonstrates how our internships can create exciting career pathways for students.”

Teachers on the Estuary Workshop participants

As a program coordinator, Janina teaches K-12 students and the public about air quality through school programs and outreach events. Janina also collaborates with educators from other DEQ divisions on teacher training and student outreach. She has created partnerships with other agencies and organizations such as drivers’ education programs, asthma support groups and museums. In her personal time, Janina enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading and dancing. She also loves going home to the Crystal Coast to spend time with her family and dogs.

She says the favorite part of earning her certification was exploring the state. “Though I have lived in North Carolina all my life, I've only just started to explore,” she said. “Going to various regions for workshops and trainings, I have learned to love each part of the state for all its unique qualities. Now, a personal goal of mine is to visit all our state parks, because I have enjoyed exploring so much!”

Janina said the experience in the program that stood out for her was the conferences hosted by Environmental Educators of North Carolina, the state’s professional organization for environmental education. “Getting to be in the same space as folks who have like interests and passions, and an array of content expertise is such a rejuvenating experience,” she said. “Learning from so many wonderful people has made me a better environmental educator. Plus, game nights and campfires are always fun too.” 

For her community partnership project, Janina created a “State of AWE (Air, Water, Earth) workshop” which showcased DEQ’s education programs in the divisions of Coastal Management; Water Resources; Energy, Mineral and Land Resources; Geological Survey; and Air Quality. “The workshops were hosted in underserved areas of the state and educators spent a day learning from DEQ educators using hands-on activities in a variety of subject matter to take back to the classroom,” Janina said. “They gained an understanding of how each element of our environment is connected.” 

DEQ Educators and State of AWE Workshop Facilitators: Rebecca Coppa, Janina Millis, Amy Pitts and Lori Davis

Janina says the program helped her gain a better understanding of her position and what she could improve to make her outreach and education programs successful. She says her biggest take-away was understanding how to teach others how to think and not what to think and making content unique to different audiences so they may take personal interest in the subject. “Telling someone what to expect or what is happening, doesn't allow for them to form their own thoughts or become personally invested,” Janina said. “It is only once they have spent time coming to conclusions themselves and seeing the impacts on their lives that they really start to understand and ask more questions. Then, they can begin to take ownership of their actions that will have impacts on the environment.”

Educator Spotlight: Seth Landon

Seth Landon, an educator at Agape Center for Environmental Education, recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification. He teaches field trips and provides  programs on a wide variety of subjects from geology and the environment to inserts and bird flight. In his personal time, Seth enjoys collecting insects, fossil hunting, camping and hiking.

Seth says his favorite part of earning his certification was the opportunity to volunteer with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). “This experience led to me helping with surveys for the federally listed Roanoke Logperch, Neuse River Waterdog, and Carolina Madtom. Each of these experiences across the state filled me with the greatest wonder and appreciation for rare and endangered species that need our help. Getting to volunteer with WRC directly to survey for the Roanoke Logperch was especially meaningful, because I was able to spend several days seeing dozens of fish and aquatic invertebrate species that are as beautiful as any you may find in a tropical reef. There is a special feeling that comes when you get to hold and see an animal that is found nowhere else in the world and then know that your effort can lead to future propagation and conservation.”

When asked about the certification experience that stands out to him, Seth says it was taking the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education Workshop. The methods class was really my biggest wakeup call that wow; I was actually doing this and needed to be all in. I already had some teaching experience, especially as a missionary, but this class taught me so many ways to be more engaging and fun as a teacher. It was especially meaningful to participate as a group and to learn from each other. After this class, I felt much more comfortable pursuing the rest of the certification, and I remember signing up for as much as I could handle on the environmental education calendar.”

For his community partnership program, Seth created an insect collection for the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls. “The museum contains plenty of historical artifacts, but not many relating to natural history. I was asked to create something that could both expand the collection and serve as a teaching aid for the public. The final collection was 39 labeled insects from various families, complete with a lesson structure and information to be presented to museum visitors.”

Seth says the certification program not only changed his approach to teaching, but it also helped him find a job. “Participation in the EE Certification by itself is what got me at least one job. My instructor for Project WILD asked me if I would like to work for her as a program instructor, which opportunity I gladly took. I was then able to apply what I had learned throughout all my environmental education courses. I have found better ways to address unruly kids, get parent chaperones involved, and now have more confidence teaching in general.”

When asked if the program changed the way he views environmental issues, Seth says that it was the Ground LevelOzone: Advanced Air Quality Educator Workshop in particular that had a hug impact on him. “I was able to do a program in the Smokey Mountains, which was hosted by the  NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality in partnership with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This program allowed us to survey salamanders and terrestrial snails, both of which are affected by poor air quality and acid rain. We were also able to make observations on the air quality itself. After our data collection and observation, we were shown data from previous years. Since the implementation of legislation such as the Clean Air Act, the sky has grown significantly clearer, snail shells have grown to larger sizes, and plants are less ozone burned. These were undeniable results of changes made to preserve the environment and reduce unnecessary pollution. This course alone had the biggest impact on me, showing that we really can make a difference and that the earth can heal itself if given the opportunity.”

Educator Spotlight: Raelene Toomer

Raelene Toomer, a teacher at Hunters Creek Elementary School in Onslow County, recently completed her North Carolina Environmental Education Certification. Raelene is retiring from teaching 2^nd grade and hopes to start an encore career. “I am looking for a new job, and I would love to do something in an environmental field. Working on my certification was the best thing for me because it helped my students learn how to take care of a creek that was on our school grounds.”

Raelene says her favorite part of earning her certification was the knowledge she gained and the networking. “I loved learning about different environments and the science lessons in all of the workshops I attended. The best part was meeting new friends that care about the environment we have here in North Carolina.”

When asked about an experience that stood out for her, Raelene says it was the North Carolina Forest Service’s “Investigating Your Environment” Workshop. “This was an incredible experience and the knowledge I gained was amazing. I was able to take that knowledge back to my classroom to help my students learn more about the creek and the trees that are living nearby.”

For her community partnership project, Raelene focused on restoring the creek that is on the school grounds. She engaged the students, parents, principal and the larger community in the effort to clean up a creek that had been damaged by  hurricanes, erosion and pollution. “This community has houses around these two schools where the creek runs into Little Northeast Creek, which runs into the New River, which runs into the Atlantic Ocean. My goal was to clean up the creek so the elementary and middle school students will have an open classroom to study the environment and all the different habitats and plants that live by our creek.”

Raelene partnered with the North Carolina Forest Service to identify the intermittent creek, with a riverkeeper for the cleanup and with the county’s landscaping crew to help connect the creek from the elementary school to the middle school. She engaged parents through a STEM night at the school and a follow-up cleanup. Raelene says the most important benefit of cleaning up the creek was to make it a healthier place for the wildlife that lives nearby and to create an outdoor classroom that teachers can use to teach about the environment and to teach science. “Community members like to take hikes along the creek and there is an open area where outdoor classes can be held for learning. Some middle school students even go out there to sit on the fallen trees to read their books in nature for relaxation. It is so nice to see this area being used by the school and the community.”

Raelene says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “This program opened my eyes to see that we have a lot of teaching to do about the environments that are in our backyards. Students today are scared to get outside and see nature. As an educator, it is important to teach students how to take care of our planet Earth and the habitats that are near us. We can teach the NC curriculum to the students outside in nature which is the best thing for the students. It gives them hands on learning and helps them see problems in nature and encourages teamwork as they try to find solutions to these problems.”

Raelene also says the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues. She says the program emphasized the importance of communities working together to solve environmental issues.