Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) Winners

2025 Winners

Melissa Kowalski
Put-in-Bay Local School District
Put- in- Bay, Ohio

Mrs. Kowalski, a dedicated educator at Put-in-Bay Local School District on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, maximizes the unique environmental setting to enrich her students' learning experiences. The island's diverse ecosystems provide a natural classroom for exploring a wide range of STEM topics. Mrs. Kowalski utilizes the island's location, which is a key stop for bird and monarch migrations, to engage students in real-world science. Collaborating with ornithologists and participating in Monarch Watch, students collect valuable data, fostering a sense of ownership over local conservation efforts. 

Incorporating place-based education, Mrs. Kowalski's curriculum includes units like "Human Impacts on the Water Cycle," linking local water quality issues to global concerns. Students engage in hands-on activities, such as using the Hydrolab to collect data from Lake Erie and participate in projects like "The Watershed Game" to understand pollution reduction. Her approach encourages critical thinking, as students explore environmental issues and develop solutions. 

Mrs. Kowalski's commitment to experiential learning extends beyond the classroom. She organizes cross-district collaborations, job shadowing, and field trips to expose students to diverse opportunities. As the Environmental Club advisor, she leads initiatives like recycling programs and native gardens, earning the district the Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence Award. Her passion for nature is infectious, inspiring students to pursue environmental careers and consistently achieve high science scores. 

Through professional development and community engagement, Mrs. Kowalski shares her expertise with educators statewide, advocating for the integration of environmental education. Her efforts have led to significant achievements, including the Ohio Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education. By fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and innovation, Mrs. Kowalski prepares her students to tackle future challenges with creativity and resilience. 

Andria Yost
Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change
Norton Shores, Michigan

As part of the Montessori curriculum, each year starts with the "Great Lessons," traditionally covering topics like the universe, life, humanity, language, and math. Ms. Yost introduced a new lesson, "The Story of Color," which explores the history of color creation and its cultural significance. This theatrical presentation uses a timeline to illustrate how humans have historically created and used color, from ancient ocher pigments to Renaissance ultramarine and industrial age glowing pigments. This lesson serves as a foundation for her eco-art program, encouraging students to understand the origins of art materials and reflect on their environmental impact. 

Following the Story of Color, students engage in hands-on activities, such as grinding stones and making acorn ink, fostering curiosity about local resources. This approach, known as "place-based learning," connects students to their immediate environment, encouraging them to gather materials like acorns and iron fragments to create art. This method not only emphasizes historical practices but also highlights the disconnect between modern art supplies and their origins, promoting a deeper understanding of material use.

As the environmental lead, she initiated the Eco-Club, which meets three times a week and involves students in practical environmental tasks. The club is divided into Plants, Animals, and Recycling crews, each responsible for different projects like maintaining a hydroponics tower, managing recycling, and participating in conservation programs. These activities promote teamwork and environmental stewardship among students from pre-K through 8th grade, fostering a sense of community and responsibility.

In the Eco-Art studio, students practice sustainability by minimizing waste and reusing materials. Students learn to disassemble old electronics and upcycle components into new art forms, such as robots. This hands-on approach not only teaches technical skills but also encourages creativity and innovation. Through initiatives like Eco-Club and community presentations, she integrates environmental education into the broader curriculum, instilling a sense of responsibility and connection to the environment in students. 

Tabetha Hollin
Acorn Elementary School
Mena, Arkansas 

Ms. Hollin, a dedicated educator at Acorn Elementary School, has transformed traditional teaching methods by integrating outdoor education as a core component of her lessons. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that the classroom extends beyond four walls to encompass planet Earth and beyond. This approach has been shown to yield numerous benefits, including improved attendance, higher grades, decreased behavioral issues, and enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills among students. By engaging students in meaningful, age-appropriate learning experiences, Ms. Hollin fosters the development of lifelong values and skills essential for the future. 

Ms. Hollin's students actively manage the school's 8-acre Outdoor Classroom, participating in diverse projects such as gardening for sustainability, soil and water testing, and timber management. These hands-on activities not only facilitate real learning but also instill a sense of pride and accomplishment in students, encouraging them to contribute positively to their community. By fostering a love for nature, Hollin aims to nurture future adults who will protect the environment. Her curriculum includes community service projects, such as volunteering at local animal rehab facilities and participating in environmental campaigns, which emphasize the importance of preserving natural habitats. 

The integration of technology and STEM education is another hallmark of Hollin's teaching approach. Her students engage in activities like geocaching, GPS navigation, and environmental research, which are designed to enhance their understanding of geosciences and environmental issues. She has secured over $50,000 in grants to support these initiatives, enabling field trips to places like Cathedral Caverns and the U.S. Space and Rocket Museum. These experiences broaden students' horizons, exposing them to different topographies, climates, and ecosystems. 

Ms. Hollin's efforts have led to positive changes in student academic achievement and behavior. Her outdoor education program has been credited with improving attendance and reducing behavioral problems, as documented in school records. Students who struggle in traditional settings often excel in outdoor activities, gaining confidence and leadership skills. Ms. Hollin's interdisciplinary approach ensures that all students, regardless of learning style, can engage with and benefit from the curriculum. Her commitment to teaching students how to think, rather than what to think, creates a supportive learning environment where students are not afraid to make mistakes.