Environmental Educators of the Year 2010

Three outstanding Idaho educators were recognized for their excellence at the 2011 Idaho Environmental Education Conference in Post Falls, Idaho. Recipients received a plaque honoring their achievements plus a $100 scholarship certificate, sponsored by the Idaho Conservation League, which covers registration to attend the 2012 Idaho EE Conference. Congratulations Sue Hansen Barber, Gina Lockwood and Michelle Youngquist!

Sue Hansen Barber is principal of Canyon Elementary School in Cataldo, Idaho, as well as the combined 4th/ 5th grade teacher. In 2007 Sue and the faculty/ staff of Canyon Elementary received approval to make the school a magnet school for the sciences. Capitalizing on the school’s campus, Sue led her school on a journey to insure that students developed an appreciation for the natural world around them. She encouraged participation in environmental education courses offered by programs such as Project Learning Tree and enlisted the aid of students and parents to construct an on-campus nature trail. Where most would see an ugly field of weeds, Sue saw an opportunity to teach students about invasive plant species and biological control. Working with the US Forest Service entomologist, Sue developed a curriculum for 5th and 6th graders to teach the sciences of taxonomy, entomology, ecology, invasion biology, and biological control of knapweed.

Secondary Environmental Educator of the Year

Gina Lockwood worked as a wildlife biologist in both the lab and the field after college. Fortunately for thousands of Idaho students, she eventually added a teaching certificate to her bag of tricks, and started her teaching career in 1994. As one of her past students says, "Gina Lockwood is one of those few, special teachers who bring incredible passion and inspiration to their classrooms. Gina taught her students to think critically, to wonder, to ask. Gina is, simply put, an amazing, committed and passionate teacher. What she does goes beyond just teaching; she makes her students aware. She makes her students engaged." She is the Lead Teacher for Science in the SEITH (Science, Engineering, Industry, Technology and Health) Academy at Mountain View High School in Meridian, which includes teaching Biology, Honors Biology, and AP Environmental Science. She is co-teacher for FIRE-UP for Summer, a 3- week outdoor science research course (in 7th year) and serves as advisor for Mountain View H.S.’s Green Club. Among her many honors, Gina received the 2005 Teacher of the Year Award at Mountain View High School.

Michelle Youngquist is well known as the Education Coordinator for the Idaho Forest Products Commission, serving as Idaho coordinator of the popular national program, Project Learning Tree (PLT). PLT is an award-winning, multidisciplinary environmental education program for grades PreK-12. Through workshops on trees, forests, fire ecology, invasive species, wildlife, water, air quality, waste management, energy and experiences for early childhood, she serves the professional development needs of about 400 teachers per year. When nominated, she was described as, "one of the all time great environmental educators in all of Idaho, and I would argue she would be in the top one percent of educators in the nation… her genuine humility allows her to develop some of the most amazing professional development opportunities in the state. When she develops a class for educators she is thorough in her research and planning and will endeavor to maximize its effectiveness, so educators want to bring this information back into their classrooms."