Potomac teacher named environmental educator of the year

POTOMAC - Potomac teacher Kristina Davis received the Montana Environmental Educational Association's (MEEA) Formal Educator of the Year Award. She will be officially recognized virtually March 25 at the MEEA's annual conference.

Davis has taught math and science at Potomac School for the last 12 years.

When Davis was a young student herself, she loved field trips and even more so now as an educator. She said it is a great way to teach her first love, wildlife biology, to the students and offers the opportunity for students to learn things they can't comprehend in the classroom. For example, releasing a trumpeter swan.

"You can show all the pictures you want but to be outside and stand directly behind the bird and then step back and watch it be released, there is nothing more real than that and it is something I hope the students remember," Davis said. 

Field trips Davis has led include the Missoula Insectarium, ice skating, Big Sky breakout house, Spectrum, Trumpeter swan release, Garnet Ghost Town, youth field day, stream flow monitoring, geocaching, bird banding, the International Wildlife Film Festival, Mike Horse dam, Sculpture in the Wild, MT Wild in Helena, Missoula weed pull and the annual three day and two night outdoor school for the seventh graders. The Blackfoot Challenge has supported many of the field trips.

Davis tries to instill her love for the outdoors in her students and said it is fun for her to teach about things that she loves to do. She said sometimes they take for granted the things that are in their backyards. She aspires to provide learning and understanding so her students can make good choices in their life.

"I want [my students] to appreciate and understand the world around them," Davis said. "If I give them as much science information, problem solving skills and life skills as I can, they can use that in the future to make good decisions."

According to a press release, the MEEA recognizes environmental educators who have demonstrated service and leadership in the field of environmental education annually. The MEEA works to progress environmental literacy across Montana and believes one of the best ways to do this is to showcase innovative educators and elevate them to share their best practices.

Local parents nominated Davis. They liked the hands-on approach teaching methods including field trips and outdoor school.

"We were able to learn of the amazing work you've been doing at Potomac School for a number of years: using the outdoors as a classroom, adapting to an unprecedented teaching environment during this pandemic and inspiring both students and other educators to outdoor learning experiences," read the announcement from MEEA.

"This award reinforces the fact that there are things to be learned that are outside of the classroom walls," Davis said. "By getting [my students] out it will hopefully lead them to enjoy being out there and keep them curious about learning."

Students, parents and teachers appreciate the time, effort and creativity Davis brings to her teaching. She works year-round to implement her classroom with innovative and educational ideas.

Potomac eighth grader Lily VanGrinsven said she really likes Davis as a teacher because she tries to make what she is teaching fun and understandable for all her students.

Potomac School teacher Jen Vogel said, "Even during our summer break, Mrs. Davis works to find ideas to share and use in her science classroom."

"Mrs. Davis's love of science and learning is evident in her classroom," Potomac Teacher Sarah Schmill added. "She is continually asking students higher level questions to encourage them to dig deeper in their learning and understanding of the world around them.  She provides students with thoughtful and engaging lessons and projects to develop and further their knowledge, as well as challenges them to be persistent and work through their struggles." 

"I was surprised and humbled to receive the award," Davis said. "It is awesome to be recognized and validates the things that I have done through my years of teaching."