Workshop Participants

Cita Anderson
3rd Grade Science and Math -
   Life, Physical and Earth Sciences
Reidsville Elementary School,
   Tattnall County, Reidsville, GA

I am hoping to gain knowledge, understanding, and field experience of how my daily routine impacts Georgia rivers, the coast and ocean. I'm eager to learn and experience ways to get myself, my students, our school system, parents and our community involved in preserving our rivers, reefs and ocean. I am a kinesthetic learner. Exploring and investigating with my hands, feet and even my whole body are right down my alley. I cannot wait to visit the Georgia Aquarium, follow the path through canoeing the different rivers, boat riding the Altamaha River, trawling trip through the marsh, and exploring the marshes and estuaries on Sapelo Island.

Jamie Carson
7th grade Life Science
Rising Starr Middle School,
   Fayetteville, GA

While spending a week learning about Georgia's ecosystems from respected scientists who work in the field makes this opportunity extraordinary! I hope to gain first-hand knowledge from this workshop learning the same way that I try to teach - hands-on. In August I look forward to bringing this once-in-a lifetime experience back to my students in order to better help them discover some real-life applications of science.

Linda Dickinson
3rd Grade (all topics)
Abbotts Hill Elementary School,
  Johns Creek, GA

My goal is to bring real world experiences and insights about Georgia's waterways, animals, and plants into my classroom next year (and in the years to come) based upon my participation in Rivers to Reefs. Through photos, video clips, and anecdotal stories, I will be able to engage my students even more as we explore the animals, plants, and regions of Georgia as well as pollution and conservation (third grade science standards). I am also excited about brainstorming lesson ideas with my fellow participants and forging new relationships with adventurous teachers throughout the state!

Karen Duncan
11th & 12th Grade Earth Systems,
   Environmental Science & Astronomy
Walton High School,
   Marietta, GA

Throughout this experience I hope to gain real-life knowledge and understanding about the importance of Georgia's waterways. From my experience I hope to bring back a new enthusiasm in my teaching with the innovative lesson plans learned during this workshop.

Windy Hawkins
4th & 5th Grade Gifted & Talented,
   Shakespeare to Enviromental Science
New Manchester Elementary School,
   Douglasville, GA

From this workshop I hope to gain further knowledge about the impact of human activity and natural occurrences on the environment. Hopefully I will learn more about how to present issues to my students in a way that they will remember what I teach them and that they will feel passionate about making a difference in the environment. I also want to have some fun and meet some new people.

Gail Dowell Jones
5th Grade Integrated Science
6th Grade Life Science
9th - 12th Grade Enviromental Science
The Heritage School,
   Newnan, GA

As a teacher, it is my hope that the experience and knowledge that I gain through this workshop will help me to better teach/explain the impact we have on our watershed, and how said watershed both indirectly and directly affects our Coast. While we already study, in-depth, the Chattahoochee Watershed through water testing and monitoring visits, my hope through this workshop and the contacts and network that I make I can recreate the experiences for both my outdoor/environmental club and Environmental Science classes.

Alicia Kirkpatrick
6th - 8th Grade Gifted Math & Science
Jasper County Middle School,
   Monticello, GA

I hope to gain a better understanding of the ecological interactions that occur in the aquatic ecosystems in Georgia. I hope that a personal experience with Georgia ecosystems will help me become better able to teach related content. More importantly, I hope it will help me to instill in my students a love of and a respect for the critical, yet delicate, balance of nature in their own back yards. Plus, I just hope to have a great time learning and experiencing amazing new things!.

Trish Long
8th Grade Integrated Cirriculum
   GA Studies, Science, Language Arts, & Photography
The Howard School,
   Atlanta, GA

From Rivers to Reef, I hope to gain knowledge and resources that I can use to deepen student understanding of environmental issues in Georgia. I look forward to experiencing first-hand some of Georgia's unique ecosystems and in turn, apply my experiences to my teaching to provide a broader range of learning activities that will help students understand their own connection to the environment.

Elizabeth R. Lozano
9th - 12th Grades
   Science: Biology, Earth Systems & Physical Science
Newnan High School,
   Newnan, GA

I hope to gain more knowledge about Georgia's water systems and aquatic environments. Keeping Georgia's water systems clean is important to me. I would like to experience and see how Georgia is making this happen. I am looking forward to learning more about Sapelo Island, one of Georgia's Barrier Islands, and what impacts the evolution of these islands. Moreover, this workshop will provide me with hands on experiences and activities to share with my students.

Angie Mentzel
7th Grade Life Science and Reading
ET Booth Middle School,
   Cherokee County, Woodstock, GA

I hope to gain a better understanding of human impact on aquatic systems (marine and freshwater), then take this information back to the classroom and share it with my students in a meaningful way so they can take action in their lives to have a positive impact on the environment. Along with the scientific aspect of this workshop, I believe my students will benefit greatly from the cultural history it provides. Building bonds and brainstorming with other teachers sharing a common experience will help generate new ideas for the classroom. I am very excited about this opportunity!

Deepa Raju
5th Grade IRR / Team - Taught all subjects
Hillside Elementary School,
   Fulton County, Roswell, GA

With the ever shrinking budgets faced by school systems and classrooms, teachers have to find new and inventive ways to bring the world to their students. We no longer have the opportunity of taking students out on field trips or buying expensive presentations of the world beyond our walls. I hope to gain material and experiences that can help assuage some of the gap between then and now. I look forward to the examples and anecdotes, pictures and artifacts, and several other resources I will gain to enrich the classroom experience. Moreover, it provides teachers a time to sit with other passionate educators and create lessons that are rich and differentiated.

Paige Reece
10th Grade - Biology (Regular & College Prep)
11th Grade - Enviromental Science
Model High School,
   Rome, GA

The River to Reefs Educator's Workshop 2011 will provide me with various ways to incorporate hands-on learning opportunities for my students in Biology and Environmental Science. As a sixth year science teacher, it is always a challenge to design new lab activities that captivates student attention while learning standard based material. This workshop will provide me with hands-on activities that will tie the information from the textbook to the student's backyard. An effective teacher strives to constantly make real-world connection for each student. I believe that the structure of this workshop will do just that and will allow me to bring those connections back to my students.

Scott Schomer
10th Grade - Physics
10th - 12th Grade - Meteorlogy
10th - 12th Grade - Oceanography
Harrison High School,
   Cobb County, Kennesaw, GA

I've always had an interest in marine biology and environmental science. So I'm hoping to use the activities and information from the workshop to develop some cool lessons for my students and make what we do in the classroom more relevant to them.

Therese Standard
10th Grade - Physics
9th - 12th Grade -
   Physical Science, Environmental Science & Physical Education
Toombs County High School,
   Lyons, GA

What I hope to gain from this workshop is knowledge concerning human impact on the marine ecosystem and the environment. I hope to learn how to take water samples and more about the watershed in Georgia. I cannot wait until our trip to Gray's Reef where I will get to deploy and operate an ROV. I am looking forward to learning about the cultural history of the island. I am extremely interested in investigating the ecology of the beach communities. I have always hoped to be on the island when it is time to observe a female Loggerhead sea turtle laying her eggs. Lastly, I hope to make friendships and bringing home information to apply to my teaching and everyday life.

Melinda Umphenour
6th Grade - Earth Science
Interrelated Special Education (Resource & Team Taught)
River Trail Middle School,
   Duluth, GA

I hope to learn how what happens in one place affects what happens in another place is the connection that will be made whether I am in a science classroom or another content area classroom. Specifically, I will make connections to the Earth Science content areas of weathering, erosion, deposition, weather, minerals, rocks, landforms, rivers, oceans, and the water cycle. The acquired information also encompasses the larger units of geology, meteorology, and hydrology. I will use the information learned to enhance day-to-day lessons and to inspire students. Ultimately the possibilities are endless.