Educator Spotlight: Cassandra Johnson

Cassandra Johnson, a Schools in Parks Specialist at Pilot Mountain State Park completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Cassandra says her position allows her to help keep the park a wild and wonderful place while pursuing her passion for outdoor education.

Originally from Virgina, Cassandra has spent a decade in North Carolina and now shares her enthusiasm for the state’s geology, weather, birds and storytelling with park visitors. “As one of the eight Schools in Parks Specialists in the state my job can include natural resource work like trail maintenance, treating invasives, and prescribed burns as well a lot of work creating education opportunities. I get to create new programs like my favorite, Rock Scavenger Hunt, and help lead programs for thousands of people all year. My role also allows me to work one-on-one with a group of teachers each year as the Schools in Parks Program includes a year-long teacher training opportunity for a handful of lucky teachers. When I'm off the clock you can find me rollerblading, flying kites, cooking vegan treats, and at a hockey game (Go Canes)!”

Cassandra says her favorite part of the program was the networking and traveling to new places in North Carolina. “I really loved the opportunity to get to see different parts of the state, get inspired by other educators and truly have fun learning outdoors with others! So often, I'm the one teaching so it was incredibly helpful to get to step back and be the student and learn from so many wonderful and knowledge people.”

When asked about a certification experience that stands out to her, Cassandra says she had two favorite experiences. “I loved being able to be outdoors and working hands-on with other outdoor educators and seeing myself start off with no experience and walk away feeling like I really gained a new skill. I attended an advanced interpretive training workshop  on butterflies and struggled to keep up - juggling field guides as the pros called off species without a second look. This past month I attended my second workshop and was amazed at how much more confidence and skill I had picked up with identifying our local butterflies. I also loved just setting the goal to do nothing but get out and explore especially outside your own backyard!”

For her community partnership project, Cassandra worked with several local organizations to host an event called RaptorFest at Pilot Mountain State Park. This event is all about counting migrating raptor species as they pass by, learning why these birds are important and the conservation efforts in place to protect them and just building excitement around getting to see and experience the migration! We had three partners: Owls Roost Wildlife Education, Charles H. Stone Memorial Library, Forsyth Audubon and together we developed family friendly games and activities, counted birds for the official database, created opportunities for participants to meet live ambassador birds, and encouraged people of all ages excited to look for these migrating hawks. Our efforts to get people interested in the annual migration has definitely been a success. With this event we've had people excited to walk away now knowing the migration passes right over them. Many people experienced bird watching for the first time in their life and learned tell different species of hawk apart while being within a foot of a live hawk! The first year we ran the program 300 participants attended, and we can't wait to see it further grow!”

When asked if the program changed her approach to teaching, Cassandra says it encouraged her to create more time for enjoying a space when she is leading a program. “I teach in state parks surrounded by amazing views and exciting plants and animals. Slowing down and allowing for more exploration during programs gives me time to process throughout the day and to create one-on-one connections, something I have brought back to my teaching style thanks to getting to see it modeled by others during workshops.”

Cassandra also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “The certification process made me feel more hopeful about several environmental issues that I traditionally glossed over when teaching because it felt like I had nothing positive to say on the subject. Participating in citizen science efforts, getting more in-depth perspectives and experiencing conservation-minded workshops and opportunities made me overall more hopeful, informed and excited to educate others.”

Educator Spotlight: Michelle Beasley

Michelle Beasley, an Environmental Specialist with the Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources in the NC Department of Environmental Quality recently completed her Environmental Education Certification. 

Michelle works in the post construction stormwater program in the department’s Wilmington Regional Office, but she began pursuing her certification before starting her current position. “I was very involved with a local nonprofit that supports two state parks and became interested in pursuing additional education at NC State University and certifications to assist with my nonprofit work.” 

Michelle has two undergraduate degrees from NC State, a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership in the Public Sector (with minors in Agribusiness Management, Biological Science and Science, Technology and Society) and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences (with minors in Science Communication and Environmental Education). “I love to learn and would love to advance my education even further in the near future.”

Although Michelle currently reviews stormwater applications and permits, she hopes the environmental education certification will benefit her in the future. “I can see the certification being of great benefit in the future, if I to decide to change my career path and move into a more public facing, educational role. In my free time, I love to spend time with my daughter and my dog! I also greatly enjoy exploring local city, county and state parks as well as spending as much time as possible enjoying the coast!”

Michelle says her favorite part of earning her certification was taking in-person workshops. “Not only did I enjoy the content of these workshops, but it also provided the opportunity to meet training staff as well as other participants from a diverse professional background. I was pursuing certification as a personal goal, but it was fantastic to meet formal educators who were pursuing certification to assist with STEM/STEAM education within the classroom. It was also my first introduction to state mandated curriculum guidelines that needed to be met. I also had the opportunity to meet other public sector professionals from city, county and state government agencies. The NC-EE certification process played a huge factor in my decision to return to NC State to pursue a degree in Environmental Sciences.”

When asked about her favorite experience, Michelle says there were so many. “I really love entomology and herpetology, so these types of workshops always made a very big impact on me. However, workshops like the birding ID workshop, a skill I had never practiced or appreciated prior to the workshop, provided exposure to new and exciting facets of the nature that surrounds me. If I had to pick one, single experience though, I guess it would have to be the Sea Turtle Exploration Workshop at NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Meeting Shelldon, the green sea turtle, made quite an impression!”

For her community partnership project, Michelle created a walking tour of downtown Wilmington for the National Association for Interpretation’s Certified Interpretive Guiding course. On the third day of the training, Michelle led participants through 14 stops of historical, natural and cultural relevance throughout downtown Wilmington. “The training course provided instruction on the history, definition and principles of interpretation as well as how to use tangible objects to connect participants to intangible and/or universal concepts. The walking tour was tasked with providing both a literal demonstration of the training material as well as a natural, historical and cultural references to the location of the walking tour.”

When asked if the program changed her approach to teaching, Michelle says she took for granted the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes of educational programming. “The amount of planning, research and education that goes into an event plus the amount of work in tracking feedback and suggestions from participants after the event, is now so much more obvious to me. This is just one example of how the certification program helped me to understand the literal, more tangible “bigger picture” of environmental education regarding time, effort and resources. The certification program also allowed me to see intangibles, exposing the principles below the surface level of the topic/activity that planted seeds of knowledge and advocacy that will continue to grow and evolve much more into the future.”

Educator Spotlight: Sarah Gleason

Sarah Gleason, an environmental educator and systems specialist at The NC Arboretum, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification.

In her role at the arboretum, Sarah facilitates environmental education programs for students ages 2 - 14 on topics such as wildlife, stream ecology, soil, weather and more. “When I am not facilitating programs, I am behind the computer helping participants register for programs, promoting our programs through website updates and flyers, or developing and adapting curriculum.  Outside of work my favorite thing to do is be outdoors. I love gardening, hiking, and looking for animals big and small!”

Sarah says she thinks the program will have a huge impact on wherever she takes her career next. “The program has opened my eyes to the vastness of the environmental education field, helped me make connections across the state and strengthened my skillset.” She also says this was her favorite part of earning her certification. “My favorite part of this certification is how it embedded me into the world of environmental education in Western North Carolina in a way that I don't think I could have done on my own. Despite working in the field and going to conferences with my job, there is a level of knowledge and basic understanding of other environmental education organizations across the state that I wouldn't have had. I feel as though completing this certification has given me a greater understanding of how environmental education works statewide and made me feel more a part of the larger goal.”

When asked which certification experience stood out to her, Sarah says it was the Project Learning Tree workshop she took at the Western NC Nature Center. “I absolutely loved how hands on the workshop was. Rather than talking about all of the activities, we did as many as we could fit into the class time and authentically did them. It lead to more in-depth debriefs about why the original format works, doesn't work, how we could alter it. I walked away with a greater understanding of how to approach a lesson plan, analyze it and adapt it to my audience.”

For her community partnership program, Sarah took over The North Carolina Arboretum's partnership with Kids in Parks to get the Track Trail program running again. “I ensured that information was accurate, Kids in Parks was involved in Arboretum events and materials were accessible to visitors of The Arboretum. This provided a consistent and free invitation for kids and families to interact with nature in an educational way.”

Sarah says the program changed her approach to teaching. “I now approach teaching with the knowledge that every single student and teacher is coming with a different background, set of skills and barriers to learning. When I started adapting programing to meet more learning styles, I noticed how effective my teaching was and noticed a greater participation level across students. I am continuously looking for ways to make my teaching styles more approachable and accessible. I hope to keep learning and changing the way I teach to make environmental education truly for everyone.”

Sarah says her views on environmental issues has changed. “I find myself thinking a lot more about funding. I always recognized that money played a role in environmental issues and the approach to fix them, but I don't think I understood how impactful funding was on a micro scale. Every environmental education organization is dealing with funding challenges, and it feels that we are being fought against, while being told that the work we are doing is "so needed and important." It is a huge challenge and a very frustrating part of environmental education and environmental issues as a whole.”
 

 

Educator Spotlight: Jay Stokes

Jay Stokes, an environmental educator at Haw River State Park, recently completed the NC Environmental Education Certification. Jay says the certification program helped them find a job. “In this position, I get to meet students all over the state and teach them about the incredible planet they live on. When I’m not teaching, I can be found snuggled up with my three cats and a crochet project in hand.”

When asked about their favorite part of the program, Jay says it was the networking. “My favorite part was meeting all the other awesome educators. The courses take you to parks, museums and libraries that I may have never visited. The people working at those places, and attending those events, really showed me what environmental education can be, and that the community is larger than you think.”

Jay says the experience that really stood out was a road trip with several other educators working on their certification. “We went to Goose Creek State Park to camp and stopped at all sorts of places on our way back for the travel portion! The community that comes from working on this certification really is indescribable.”

For the community partnership project, Jay created and hosted an environmental trivia night at a local business in downtown Greensboro. “It was so much fun, and participants got to put their knowledge to the test. I plan on continuing this project, “Stumped: Environmental Trivia,” to keep reaching my community and spreading awareness about the environment.”

Jay says the program changed their approach to teaching. “I really had to think about how I can reach different audiences. I really want to create programming for younger adults, but for a while I couldn't figure out how. For example, with my community project, it took me time to figure out that I need to go to the audience sometimes! You also need to be patient. It's not going to happen all at once, it takes consistency.”

Jay also says it changed the way they think about environmental issues. “It’s going to sound cheesy, but this program gives me hope. It can be easy to get bogged down by all the bad in the world and just ignore it. Seeing all the people that care, and that care enough to take the time to learn how to get others to care, has changed my attitude quite a bit. Pessimism won’t fix our issues. Empathy and care will help our environment, and I saw that so many times.”

Educator Spotlight: Krista Brinchek

Krista Brinchek, a science specialist at Abbotts Creek Elementary School, has completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Krista serves more than 800 students each year! “I developed my curriculum through an environmental lens to teach the NC Science Standards and connect students to the natural world.”

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Krista says the program profoundly shaped her growth as an educator. "It has deepened my knowledge of North Carolina's diverse flora, fauna, and natural systems while connecting me with an incredible network of educators across the state. Through these relationships, I have collaborated with environmental education professionals, gained valuable instructional best practices and strengthened my ability to create engaging, meaningful learning experiences that connect students with the natural world."

When asked what certification experience stands out for her, she says it was the workshops with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. “Through the certification process I was able to attend numerous workshops with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences which not only connected me with educators from across the state but gave me a deep dive into content knowledge about our unique flora and fauna in our state. My favorite experience was attending the museums Educators of Excellence Magical Migrations trip to Mexico!”

For her community partnership project, Krista spearheaded a nature-inspired professional development workshop in Cullowhee at the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching. “The workshop brought together a diverse team of environmental education professionals to design and deliver meaningful learning experiences for formal educators. Through this collaborative effort, teachers gained hands-on strategies, field-based experiences, and connections to local environmental resources that empowered them to integrate environmental literacy and outdoor learning into their classrooms with confidence.”

When asked how the program led to changes in her approach to teaching others, Krista says it was the skill building. “This program and the workshops attended gave me so many new skills to incorporate hands-on learning within the classroom. The instructional workshops provided ready to implement lessons that not only taught environmental education concepts but directly connected with science standards.”

 

 

Educator Spotlight: Tiffany Huffman

Tiffany Huffman, Park Superintendent at Bakers Mountain Park in Catawba County, has completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Tiffany says she wears a lot of hats in her role. “Our staff does everything that is required to keep our parks running: maintenance, cleaning restrooms, trail work, giving directions, and more. My favorite part of the job is doing educational programming to teach others about the environment around them. The most interesting fun fact about me and my work is that I am one of four licensed hummingbird banders in the state. I enjoy all things outdoors- hiking, kayaking, walking, etc. as well as reading.”

When asked about her favorite part of earning her certification, Tiffany says she enjoyed the entire program. “My favorite part was going to workshops and learning from other educators and being able to bring back activities and ideas for my own work.”

Tiffany says the part that stands out to her is the NC Forest Service’s  week-long “Investigating Your Environment” workshop. “I often said, ‘It’s like summer camp but for adults’ because the workshop was such a fun week. The workshop gave me a ton of resources and ideas for activities that I can do with students and adults to enhance programming.”

For her community partnership project, Tiffany transformed an existing trail into a “Nature Exploration Trail.” She installed signs that can be changed out seasonally to convey an environmental message to elementary-aged students and their families. “These signs all center around a central theme and have an activity at each station to engage students. This project will provide an incentive for families and individuals to explore the trail more and learn more about their environment. It also provides a resource for teachers at the elementary school next door to use to get students outdoors without the cost of a field trip.”

When asked if the certification program led to any changes in her approach to teaching, she says it demonstrated the importance of engaging participants when teaching and the techniques for effectively capturing your audience’s attention. “ I could see the difference in how engaged participants were when I started using hands-on activities. I also learned a lot from other educators on how to do this effectively so that students were engaged, focused on the task and not distracting others. This program has taught me the importance of giving all the facts to students and participants and letting them come to their own conclusions rather than just telling them what to think.”

 

Educator Spotlight: Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson, program coordinator and camp director for Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation has completed his NC Environmental Education Certification.

Matt says his favorite part of earning his certification was the networking and friends he met in the program. “As a small parks and recreation division, being able to work with other larger organizations such as NC State Parks and Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation has been rewarding. Not only are we making great partnerships, but we are showing our citizens that we are up to snuff in our own education programs.”

When asked what certification experience stood out for Matt, he says it was the Project Learning Tree workshop. “I had the pleasure of co-hosting a Project Learning Tree course with new friends at the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. It stands out to me because I enjoyed working as a team to complete a common goal.”

For his community partnership project, Matt started a volunteer trail guide program on Beech Mountain. “This program has training sessions based on, flora and fauna, first aid, Beech Mountain history and environmental concerns. The guides lead hikes every other week from May to October. This has been a great program because it brings local knowledge to the town's citizens. As a result, we have better communication with local residents and more civic engagement. The people want more environmental programming now more than ever!”

Matt says as a result of the program he uses interactive games when teaching summer camp programs.  “I've learned that having fun learning with games and intrinsic questions retain better with the kids than anything.” He also says the program changed how he views environmental issues. “I think a lot more about the local ecology and financial impacts.” Matt says a good example of this connection is the hemlock woolly adelgid, an aphid-like bug that is responsible for decline of eastern and Carolina hemlock trees.  “People come to Beech Mountain for the natural beauty and healthy environment and that is connected to our economy since we are a tourism-based town.”

Educator Spotlight - Emily Behr

Emily Behr, a youth education program manager at the NC Botanical Garden, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Emily says the program allowed her to change careers. “I lead a team designing and delivering nature-based education programs for kids, from summer camps to preschool programs to school field trips. Outside of work, I co-lead a native pollinator garden restoration project at the Haw River State Natural Area, and I am on the board of Directors for EENC (Environmental Educators of North Carolina) and Friends of the Lower Haw State Natural Area. I am also a part of the NC Master Naturalist program.”

Emily says her favorite part of earning her certification was the opportunity to reflect on her role as an educator and to network. “I appreciated having a structured framework to reflect on my own growth as an educator, rather than just accumulating experience without stepping back to think through it and grow. I also really appreciated the chance to connect with other environmental educators across the state."

When asked about an experience in the program that stands out for her, she says it was the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education Workshop at Grandfather Mountain. “It helped affirm that this was the career path I wanted to pursue. I met great people and learned so much. It felt so aligned and really ignited a passion in me to follow this work and certification.”

For her community partnership project, Emily led a native pollinator garden restoration at the Haw River State Natural Area’s 15-501 access point in  partnership with the Friends of the Lower Haw River State Natural Area and NC Master Naturalists volunteers. “The project restored degraded habitat into a functioning pollinator corridor while giving volunteers hands-on ecological restoration experience — turning an overrun green space into an active site for community stewardship and environmental learning. It is a work in progress that is going to take years to complete, but one that I feel proud to be a part of. It will be an asset to the community a we integrate interpretive signage, beautiful native landscape and hands-on experiences.”

Emily says the program changed her approach to teaching. “The certification pushed me to be more intentional about outcomes first — starting with what knowledge, connection to nature or conservation mindset I want a program to build and designing backward from there. It also made me more deliberate about building in reflection and evaluation, both for my own programs and for the staff I supervise. Lastly, I learned how important unstructured moments are. They allow kids to be scientists themselves, embracing curiosity, wonder and play.”

She also says the program changed the way she views environmental issues. “I feel empowered. The certification process reinforced that environmental education is about building relationships between people and place that make conservation feel personal and applicable. It shifted how I think about impact: I feel that I now have tools to not only make an impact in my personal life, but also to encourage the next generation of environmental stewards.”

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.”

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 Wake County Public Schools' elementary ELA units focus on environmental topics, and Cristal says allowing students 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.”

Educator Spotlight: Stacy Darwin

Stacy Darwin, a public school librarian with Abbotts Creek Elementary School in Wake County, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. “I have been a librarian for the last 14 years and in my spare time I love to travel, hike, and explore countless hobbies. I have two young adult children that also keep me busy and active.”

Stacy went through the program with a cohort of public school librarians. "Krista Brinchek, a science teacher at our school, had the genius idea of creating and supporting a cohort of school librarians. We call it L.E.E.F. - Librarians as Environmental Education Facilitators. This original cohort has elementary, middle, and high school represented through myself, Erica Flory, Evelyn Bussell, and Tammy Weller. As librarians, we are the curators and collaborators of all things curriculum. Combining wonder, curiosity, and critical thinking is the backbone of what we do every day. We reach a significant number of students in our unique positions while also supporting teachers with resources. We can also work with administrators to provide additional professional development for teachers on how environmental education can support the new science standards. The cohort has been a wonderful way for us to network and see the connections from kindergarten through 12th grade. I value the friendships I have made with these inspirational women."

When asked about her favorite part of the certification program, Stacy says it was learning about NC’s environment. “I'm a native Texan and taught in Tucson, Arizona, for four years. I was having a difficult time gaining the amount of knowledge I had about those environments here in North Carolina. I love being able to share fun facts with students, family and friends. This experience has made me more aware of the uniqueness of our state and how I can play a role in protecting it.”

Stacy says the experience in the program that stood out to her was the “Got Elk?” program. “I learned so much at the workshop, and I really pushed myself to experience more than I would have on my own. I had no idea I would become so excited about snails and lichen while also observing the beautiful elk!”

For her community partnership project, Stacy worked with a fellow certification candidate, Jen Muttillo, to research, write and record eBooks for first grade students so they could access age-appropriate nonfiction material about the plants of North Carolina. “I have witnessed our students use these books during research for past two springs and it is encouraging to see students empowered to interact with text that is on their levels. I also got wonderful feedback from our first-grade team.”

When asked if the program led to changes in her approach to teaching, Stacy said it made her more comfortable teaching outdoors. “I enjoyed outdoor learning being modeled by so many different instructors. I eased my fears in taking students outside to learn and has really encouraged me to share information with other teachers!”

Educator Spotlight: Stacy De Witte

Stacy De Witte, a retired NC middle school science and math teacher, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. Stacy says the program helped her start and “encore” or post-retirement career. “I currently work part-time with Piedmont Environmental Alliance as one of their Environmental Educators. For the majority of my job, I go into middle and high school science classrooms to share programming about environmental issues and ways that students can participate in stewardship.”

Stacy says her favorite part of the program was collaborating with other educators around the state – both in the classes and during her final project. She says one workshop was the certification experience that really stood out to her. “I took Project WET (Water Education for Today) in Durham for three days through the City of Durham Stormwater Division. That was probably my favorite workshop of all the experiences to date. It was so well-run and organized. I made the decision to get my Project WET training to be a facilitator at that point and followed through this past February.”

For her community partnership program, Stacy created water education backpacks for teachers, scout leaders and environmental educators to check out. “The water exploration bag project engaged community members by bringing together educators, environmental organizations, local government and the public library to create a shared resource that supports environmental education throughout Forsyth County. Representatives from the City of Winston-Salem Stormwater Division, Piedmont Environmental Alliance, and the Forsyth County Public Library collaborated to develop, fund, promote, and distribute the backpacks. The bags have already been used by more than 100 students this summer at Kaleideum and Reynolda Gardens summer camps. Students have been so excited to get out in the creeks and streams in the community to see what kind of diversity lives in their waterways.”

When asked if the program led to changes in her approach to teaching, Stacy says it expanded her reach from the classroom to outdoor camps and other organizations. “The program helped me see beyond the classroom and helped other educators incorporate much of what I learned in the different workshops. I’m hoping to extend this knowledge by being a Project WET facilitator.”

Educator Spotlight: Savannah Lytle

Savannah Lytle, the Southwestern Watershed Outreach Coordinator for MountainTrue recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. In her role at MountainTrue, Savannah works directly with the region’s water quality programs, including Adopt-A-Stream, microplastics monitoring, and the Swim Guide in addition to other education programs. “I lead education and outreach programs that help connect communities with local environmental issues and conservation efforts. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, developing my naturalist skills, and spending time outside hiking, backpacking and paddling. I also love baking, crafting and exploring new places with my husband.”

Savannah says her favorite part of certification was participating in the guided outdoor experiences. “These experiences gave me the opportunity to explore and learn about North Carolina's natural environment firsthand. Through a variety of trainings, I developed a deeper appreciation for everything ranging from mosses to insects. From the coast to the Southern Appalachians, North Carolina is an incredibly diverse and beautiful state, and these experiences helped me see and appreciate that diversity in new ways.”

When asked what experience in the program stood out to her, Savannah says it was participating in a variety of instructional workshops. “The workshops challenged the way I plan environmental education lessons and introduced me to new strategies for making them more engaging and effective. In particular, the Universal Design for Learning training changed the way I approach lesson planning. I now intentionally incorporate accessibility considerations into all of my environmental education lessons, so they are more inclusive for every learner.”

For her community partnership project, she collaborated with the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and Cape Fear’s Going Green Magazine to host Wilmington's first community science festival. “The festival created a central place for community members to learn about local community science projects directly from the organizations that lead and support them. Attendees could explore volunteer opportunities, learn how project data is being collected and used, receive information about required training and connect with project leaders to ask questions. By increasing awareness and participation, the festival aimed to expand volunteer recruitment, strengthen community engagement and broaden the reach of local environmental monitoring efforts.”

Savannah says the program changed her approach to teaching in many ways. “One of the biggest ways is that I now better understand developmental stages when I work with various age groups and am able to better tailor my lesson plans to meet their developmental needs and keep students engaged. Additionally, I have a stronger understanding of the importance of evaluation and assessment, recognizing that they can be used in a variety of ways to measure program effectiveness and improve educational programs.”

She says the program also changed the way she views environmental issues. “I now have a much better understanding of the difference between environmental education and environmental advocacy. I appreciate that environmental education is about helping people explore environmental issues from multiple perspectives and use critical thinking to form their own conclusions, while environmental advocacy focuses on promoting a specific viewpoint or course of action. Understanding this distinction has helped me be more intentional about how I approach my work at an environmental advocacy organization and recognize when each approach is most appropriate to use!”

Educator Spotlight: Christy Perrin

Christy Perrin, the Sustainable Waters and Communities Coordinator with the NC Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) and NC Sea Grant, recently completed her NC Environmental Education Certification. In these roles Christy implements projects that benefit both people and nature with a focus on water. “I facilitate collaborative initiatives like the Wake Green Schools Partnership which works to increase environmental literacy in schools, and I coordinate projects that increase community and ecological resiliency and engage K-12 students and educators in NC standards-aligned lessons about water resources and natural science careers. I’m also a volunteer leader with my child’s Scouting of America Troop which provides plenty of opportunities to join camping and other outdoor adventures!”

Christy says her favorite part of earning her certification was participating in the outdoor environmental education experiences. “ It raised my awareness of the many guided programs available across NC through local and state agencies and environmental education centers, and it gave me the gentle nudge I needed to participate in many of them. The NC Museum of Natural Science's Mad for Madtoms Educator Trek was a highlight -- literally diving into a river to learn about tiny, endangered Carolina Madtoms (catfish), and meeting Neuse River Waterdogs with Museum and NC Wildlife Resources Commission staff!”

When asked about an experience in the program that stood out to her, Christy says it was the Methods of Teaching Environmental Education Workshop. “I found the course especially helpful since my education was about public administration, environmental policy and collaborative problem solving, not teaching. It helped me to move more comfortably and confidently into engaging K-12 audiences in my programming.”

For her community partnership project, Christy chose to do her project at her son's elementary school. As a PTA member and parent volunteer, she was able to work collaboratively to create an outdoor learning and play area and to coordinate sustainability events around campus including native plant installations and litter cleanups. “The new outdoor learning and play area provides K-2 grade students unstructured play opportunities, benefitting their development. The boulders, trees, shrubs and perennials installed throughout the campus provide additional natural areas to explore and enhance the ecosystem and wildlife who may use the campus as their habitat. The importance of outdoor sustainability at the school is now reflected in the title of the committee I chaired. I worked with the PTA president to change the committee from “operations and grounds” to "sustainability and grounds."

Christy says the certification changed her approach to teaching. “The program provided me with skills, knowledge, practice and confidence to expand K-12 programming within WRRI. “I'm applying what I've learned every time I plan to visit a school, create new lesson plans, or partner with others on initiatives to advance environmental literacy across the state of North Carolina.”

Christy says she had a strong base of understanding of environmental issues before starting the program, but the program changed how she thinks about supporting her students’ understanding of environmental issues. “I better understand the need to support a student's critical thinking and analysis of environmental issues as part of the environmental education process and to help them connect to their own experiences and knowledge to make those environmental issues relevant to them. Getting students outdoors to see and experience their local environment is a key piece the process.”

Educator Spotlight: Jacob Regensburger

Jacob Regensburger, a middle school teacher with the 71^st Classical Middle School in Cumberland County recently completed his NC Environmental Education Certification. Jacob teaches 6^th and 7^th grade science and volunteers with Friends of Carvers Creek State Park to help run their programs. In his personal time, he enjoys hiking, photography and reading.

Jacob says his favorite part of the program was the opportunity to see different places in the state. “My favorite part of the program was seeing how diverse an ecology and geography North Carolina has. From the mountains in the west to the coast in the east, you can find many different types of plants, animals and ecosystems.”

When asked if there was an experience that stood out to him, Jacob says it was programs offered through the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. “I first learned about the certification while attending the museum’s Blue Ridge Institute during Covid. My final hours towards certification were earned through another museum institute, their trip to Yellowstone National Park. This was the perfect bookend to my certification experience.”

For my community partnership project, I started an environmental art contest within my school. The focus was on native plants or animals from North Carolina. Our design was sent to Yellow Crayons, a local t-shirt printing business, to create a T-Shirt. The shirts were sold to the student body, and proceeds were donated to the Friends of Carvers Creek State Park. We have already decided to continue the contest next school year, and the Friends group is considering adopting the winning design each year as their official t-shirt.”

Jacob says the program led to changes in his approach to teaching. “Many of my experiences led me to slow down and connect with my environment, as well as the people around me. I find now that I am quicker to slow down and listen before responding, and I teach and encourage my students to do the same. If you have a middle schooler in your life, you know how much they can benefit from slowing down and listening!

Jacob says the program helped his teaching. “I find my practice as a teacher immeasurably improved. Between professional development, curriculum resources, and many new friends and colleagues met through the program, I would not be the teacher I am today without environmental education.”

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.”