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White House teacher award goes to Fairview's Kesgen
Marianna Kesgen

Kesgen

 Marianna Kesgen has been named one of the first recipients of a prestigious White House award that recognizes outstanding environmental educators.

Kesgen is one of only 13 elementary science teachers to receive the national honor. A total of 37 elementary and secondary educators received the awards given by the President's Council on Environmental Quality, in partnership with the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation.

Kesgen's use of environment-based education brought her national recognition because it produces positive learning results, particularly in science achievement. It also instills student commitment to community service.

The CEQ teacher awards spotlight teachers like Kesgen who use environment-based teaching methods to help children learn in a variety of settings. These awards promote teacher scholarship through professional development and encourage replication of their excellent environment-based teaching methods.

"I believe Marianna is the exact kind of teacher they had in mind," said Fairview Principal Sue Nations. "She is a knowledgeable, enthusiastic individual who communicates a passion for learning because she knows the issues that are so critical, not only for our lifestyle, but also for our lives."

"Exceptional teachers like Marianna Kesgen have seized upon an educational approach that has proven in dozens of schools that students respond to the environment's diversity with creativity, enthusiasm, sharper critical thinking skills and a positive attitude towards learning," said NEETF President Kevin Coyle.

Kesgen will receive a $1,500 stipend, along with a certificate of honor, to be used to further her professional goals. The award is given with the support of AT&T and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Education.

At Fairview, Kesgen has led in the development of Wildwatch, the school's outdoor environmental classroom, and initiated a soil and water data exchange program with a school in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Through GLOBE, an international educational partnership, she went to Russia to demonstrate how to use measurement instruments essential to conservation and forestry lessons.

"Realizing that I am an educator of tomorrow's citizens and voters, I am compelled to weave an environmental thread into all' the areas of the curriculum," Kesgen said.

A full list of CEQ award winners is available at www.neetf.org.

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