Educator Spotlight: Cristal Lugo

Cristal Lugo, an elementary school teacher, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Cristal teaches English as a Second Language at Sycamore Creek Elementary School in Wake County. “I teach English to multilingual students in kindergarten through 5th grade. My hobbies include visiting museums, traveling, collecting cancellation stamps from national parks, reading non-fiction history books and wearing different fashion styles.”

When asked about her favorite part of completing the certification program, Cristal said it was discovering so many meaningful, hands-on ways to help her students develop English, grade-level content knowledge and academic vocabulary at the same time. “As an ESL teacher, one of my primary responsibilities is pre-teaching the academic vocabulary and content my students will encounter in English Language Arts, science and social studies. My goal is for them to walk into their classrooms feeling confident, understanding what they are learning, and actively participating alongside their peers. The workshops I attended provided me with an incredible collection of lessons, resources and outdoor learning experiences that made this possible.

Many of Cristal’s ELA units focus on environmental topics and she says giving students the  opportunity to explore those concepts through hands-on experiences both inside and outside the classroom significantly strengthened their vocabulary development and reading comprehension. “Through nature journaling, investigations, discussions and collaborative experiments, my students practiced using both social and academic language in English while also drawing on their home languages to deepen their understanding. These experiences created a welcoming, low-stress environment where students felt comfortable taking risks, asking questions, making mistakes and learning from one another. One of the most rewarding outcomes was watching my English learners become leaders. Because they had already experienced the content through hands-on learning, they entered their general education classrooms with confidence and were often able to contribute ideas, answer questions and support their classmates. Earning this certification has transformed my teaching by giving me practical strategies that not only deepen learning but also empower my students to succeed academically.”

For her community partnership project, Cristal collaborated with the art and technology teachers at her school for an annual art and science night. “I partnered with 12 local organizations that aligned with our students’ science and ELA curriculum to provide hands-on learning experiences focused on topics such as wildlife, conservation, natural resources, sustainability and environmental science. Like many schools, some of our students and families face barriers such as transportation, time constraints and the need to take additional time off to provide these types of experiences for their children. By bringing these organizations directly to our school, we increased equitable access to environmental education opportunities. This project strengthened community connections while giving all of our students and families meaningful opportunities to learn from local experts through engaging, real-world experiences.

When asked if the program led to changes in her approach to teaching, Cristal says it showed her the power of creating learning environments that served as a “second teacher.” “Visiting so many museums, state parks, nature preserves and educational facilities allowed me to see how interactive displays can make learning engaging, meaningful and accessible for all learners. These experiences inspired me to transform my own classroom by incorporating more interactive displays and opportunities for exploration that encourage student curiosity and connection to the content. I hope to continue expanding this vision beyond my classroom by creating more interactive learning spaces throughout our school, including hallways and outdoor areas. My goal and hope is to help make our entire school environment a place where students can learn, explore and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them.”

Cristal says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “What has changed my perspective the most through this certification program is the opportunity to connect with so many people who are deeply passionate about the environment and environmental education. Seeing so many educators, organizations and community members working to protect our environment and promote the common good by empowering others with the knowledge and skills to become environmental stewards has given me hope. This program has reminded me that meaningful change is possible when people come together to educate, advocate and act. It brings me hope for my own children, for my students and for the future of our planet.”