Educator Spotlight: Christine Biela

Christine Biela, a teacher at Stuart W. Cramer High School in Gaston County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. “I teach Earth and Environmental Science, North Carolina Wildlife, AP Environmental Science and Honors Forensics. I love creating hands-on, place-based learning experiences that connect my students with the natural world and help them understand how science applies to their everyday lives.”

Christine says the certification program advanced her career by helping prepare her for a successful career transition into secondary science teaching. “The program allowed me to become very familiar with North Carolina ecosystems, wildlife and community science programs, all of which I have been able to integrate regularly into my classroom.”

Christine says her favorite part of earning her certification was learning about the different ecosystems and biodiversity of North Carolina. “Because I had only recently moved to North Carolina, the certification program helped me discover the incredible natural resources, wildlife and conservation organizations that make North Carolina so unique. I also appreciated how practical the workshops were, giving me activities and resources that I could immediately bring back to use with my students.”

When asked what certification experience stands out for her, Christine says it was the site visits and programs. “Visiting so many incredible environmental education sites across North Carolina and participating in community science programs—like Terrapin Tally, NABat and Box Turtle Connection—were the most memorable parts of the EE certification program. It was inspiring to learn directly from people working in the field and to see the wide variety of organizations dedicated to local conservation, research, and education.”

For her community partnership project, she partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Stevens Creek Nature Center and Catawba Riverkeeper to develop an educational workshop centered on water quality and conservation of Charlotte’s endangered freshwater mussel, the Carolina heelsplitter. “The program introduced participants to the importance of native freshwater mussels, their role in maintaining clean water and actions individuals can take to help protect local watersheds. My goal was to help participants recognize that even lesser-known endangered species play an important role in healthy ecosystems, and that local conservation begins with understanding our own watersheds.”

Christine says the certification program changed her approach to teaching. “The certification program reinforced the importance of place-based and experiential  learning. Rather than simply teaching environmental concepts, I now place an even greater emphasis on helping students build meaningful connections with the natural world through local examples, outdoor experiences and community partnerships. The program also introduced me to many outstanding environmental education resources that I continue to incorporate into my classroom each year.

Christine also says the program changed the way she thinks about environmental issues.  “While I always knew that local and place-based environmental education was important, the certification program helped me appreciate how many opportunities there are across North Carolina to connect students with conservation efforts happening in their own communities. The program also gave me a much deeper appreciation for the state’s extraordinary biodiversity, and I now share that excitement with my students. They are often amazed to learn that North Carolina is home to the only wild population of endangered red wolves and the greatest diversity of salamanders anywhere in the world. It helps them realize that globally significant conservation isn't something that only happens somewhere else—it happens right here in our own state. The program reinforced that environmental issues can sometimes feel overwhelming on a global scale, but local stewardship and community partnerships allow students to see that their actions can make a meaningful difference. It also deepened my appreciation for the many agencies, nonprofits and educators working together across North Carolina to protect our state's natural resources.”