A Model Laboratory High School educator recently was recognized as Kentucky Conservation Teacher of the Year.
Susan Neumann, who teaches life science, anatomy, environmental science and photography, received the honor recently from the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts at its annual awards banquet in Louisville.
“It’s for all of Kentucky,” she said about the award. “I’m very proud.”
Neumann, who is in her sixth year at Model, came to Richmond from North Carolina, where she taught for more than 10 years. She also had taught at a private school in Cyprus after a two-year tour in the Peace Corps.
“Ms. Neumann has taken many courses and attended workshops and conferences in which she has advanced her knowledge and skills in the area of environmental education … and then gets her high school students actively involved in environment-oriented projects,” said Dr. Melinda Wilder, director of EKU’s Division of Natural Areas.
She also demonstrates her dedication to environment education by sponsoring the Envirothon and the Community Problem Solving Team, two extracurricular events that help students become interested and involved in environmental issues, Wilder said.
The Envirothon team placed third in the state this past year.
“The reason I think I won is because I did a lot of work with my students,” Neumann said. “I think (the team) really impressed people because we’ve only done it for two years. Most of these teams have been practicing for a long time.”
The Community Problem Solving Team, which focused on the problems associated with mountaintop removal, also placed third in international competition at Fort Collins, Colo., this past summer.
“Ms. Neumann epitomizes conservation,” said Model Lab colleague Dr. Jackie Vance. “Teaching students about the environment, conservation and the interaction of life forces on everything around us is not a curriculum exercise for her. It is her life work.”
Neumann taught a unit last year that allowed students to examine various views about the relationship between human action and climate change.
“I was amazed by the interest and passion most students exhibited when looking at the future of their planet,” she said. “No matter their political views or opinion on human impact on the environment, most were interested in developing a more environmentally friendly, sustainable lifestyle.”
Neumann said she is fortunate to have incredible support from many of the EKU professors, including Wilder and Drs. Alice Jones and Stephen Richter.
“This support has enabled me to offer my students many opportunities to be involved in environmental community outreach, such as planting trees and improving riparian zones, as well as promoting efforts to monitor water quality and proper waste management,” she said.
Bryan Marshall can be reached at bmarshall@richmondregister.com or 624-6691.
Local News
Model educator wins award
- Local News
-
-
‘She wasn’t just a teacher’ : Lambert retires after 43 years at Berea
Scroll to the bottom of the story to read "Love for Lambert: Berea graduates share memories of their teacher," as well as a list of other Berea retirees this year.
Writer’s Note: Brenda Lambert is the reason I write articles today (Class of 2000).
Years ago, a little blonde-haired girl from Rockcastle County gathered her friends to “play school” in a 10-by-10 foot playhouse her father built.
Even at 12 years old, Brenda Lambert knew she wanted to be a teacher one day.
“I always felt like an old person trapped in a young person's body,” said Lambert, who is retiring after 43 years of service to Berea Community School. -
Special Olympics return for 18th year at EKU
Next weekend, the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games return to Eastern Kentucky University campus. This is the 18th consecutive year EKU has hosted the event.
The games will be Friday through June 2. About 1,300 athletes will compete this year. -
Assault charges reduced, dismissed by grand jury
Two men arrested in connection with serious assaults had their charges reduced, and in one case dismissed, by a Madison grand jury.
Jerry Wayne Edington, 34, of Berea Road, was charged Jan. 19 with second-degree assault after an altercation at the Blue Moon bar on East Irvine Street, according to a Richmond police report. -
Dump of the Day
The Dump of the Day is a recurring series the newspaper publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Page A7 in Sunday's paper to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Paradise Cove open through Labor Day
Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
-
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
-
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed. - More Local News Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
