Five Rivers MetroParks is accepting nominations for its ninth annual OUTstanding Teacher Awards. New this year and in recognition of the importance of early learning, separate categories have been created for early childhood and K-12 educators. Nominations are due Jan. 31, 2025.
2024 OUTstanding Teacher Awards – Jessie Muhleman (Leader) and Southdale Elementary Students
A winner will be selected from each of the following categories:
- Early Childhood (minimum three years of experience): This award is open to teachers working in Early Childhood Education programs licensed in Ohio that are operating in Montgomery County or neighboring counties.
- K-12 Classroom Teachers: Open to any classroom educator in public, private or Montessori in Montgomery County or neighboring counties, teaching any subject matter at any grade level (kindergarten through high school).
- Rising Star (less than 10 years of teaching experience)
- Leader (10 to 20 years of teaching experience)
- Lifetime Achievement (more than 20 years of teaching experience)
“We are so pleased that the important work of early childhood educators will be considered and recognized through the Five Rivers MetroParks’ OUTstanding Teacher Award moving forward,” said Meredith Florkey, a representative from Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside. “This effort supports the years of work in the preschool, childcare and family-childcare industry that shares the importance of the first few years of life when most of the brain is developed.”
Awardees will be announced this spring. Winning teachers will also receive an awards package containing:
- Educational materials to assist in connecting students to the environment
- Plants or equipment to enhance the schoolyard
- EECO (Environmental Education Council of Ohio) membership and registration for the 101 Conference at Camp Kern held annually the first weekend of October
- A one-year membership to the James M. Cox, Jr. Arboretum Foundation
- Transportation for their students to Cox Arboretum MetroPark for a field trip
Funded through the James M. Cox Jr. Arboretum Foundation, the awards are for teachers providing students with outdoor, environmental experiences that inspire an interest in and positive attitudes about nature.
Anyone can nominate a teacher by writing a short essay or producing a video (less than five minutes in length) that provides examples from each of the following practices:
- Educator exhibits positive attitudes toward nature and the outdoors
- Educator uses outdoor spaces for teaching
- Takes students outdoors regularly in all seasons to play and learn
- Enhances and promotes the use of the schoolyard and greenspace for learning
- Educator weaves nature into the classroom curriculum
- Educator motivates staff, faculty and parent involvement in the outdoors
- Educator dedicates time beyond the school day to promote nature engagement and learning
- Educator engages students in environmentally-friendly practices
Additionally, award submissions should include two photos of the teacher that capture the great work he/she is doing getting kids outside and bringing nature into the curriculum and classroom.
Teachers can self-nominate. Nominations can be submitted by completing an online form and either posting a video to YouTube or uploading the written essay. Judging criteria and submission information can be found online at metroparks.org/outstanding. Videos do not have to be professionally produced, as the content of the message is what will be judged. Please be as specific as possible in your nomination, so judges have a clear understanding of the amazing work and the impact of your award nominee.
Community volunteers with a background in outdoor education will judge the awards. Five Rivers MetroParks employees and board members of the James M. Cox Jr. Foundation, Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation and Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation and their immediate families are not eligible.
Last year’s OUTstanding Teacher Award recipients were Molly Horne, Rising Star educator from Tippecanoe High School; Jessie Muhleman, Leader educator from Southdale Elementary; and Tracy Kuehn, Lifetime Achievement educator from Driscoll Elementary.
