MUCC 2019 Educator of the Year: Kari Roy

MUCC Past President Dawn Levey, left, and MUCC Executive Director Amy Trotter, right, present Kari Roy with the MUCC 2019 Educator of the Year Award

 

Over the course of a 26-year career in the classroom, Kari has worked tirelessly to connect both students and the community to the outdoors. Kari creates an environment of excitement both inside and outside of the classroom, not only introducing kids to the natural world but stressing the importance of conserving and protecting our natural resources. Kari was instrumental in helping to save the Dewitt Nature Center and continues to work with her students to maintain and make improvements in the 38-acre preserve.

Kari planned and coordinated the establishment of a large butterfly/monarch way station, school vegetable garden and led a school-wide recycling program. These and other environmental conservation projects led to the recognition and selection as the first Clinton County school to earn a Michigan Green School Award.

Some of Kari’s achievements include hosting guest speakers from the Department of Natural Resources, a salmon in the classroom program, field trips to the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery, wood duck and bluebird box construction, student composting station, and designing and implementing an environmental education class into the school curriculum.

Kari is an inspiring leader and excellent role model in the school and community in the promotion of conservation. Her passion and efforts on behalf of the thousands of students to inform, educate and practice conservation makes her a prime recipient for this prestigious award.