Summer 2010 Teacher Ranger Teachers Getting to Know Our National Parks

National Park Service Teacher-Rangers for summer 2010 are, from left, Connie Grizzard, Pam Muse Williams, Lisa Spencer, and Pat Baker

NPS

News Release Date: June 30, 2010

Contact: Mary Doll, 252-473-2111 x164

Four Teacher-Rangers who started work with the National Park Service Outer Banks Group last week are already in uniform and learning much about the Group's parks; Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. This marks the second year this developmental partnership program between the three parks and the local school district is offered.

The 2010 Teacher-Rangers include: Connie Grizzard, eighth grade math and Algebra I teacher at Manteo Middle School; Pam Muse Williams, fourth grade teacher at Manteo Elementary School; Lisa Spencer, a teaching assistant at Mattamuskeet High School; and Pat Baker, a reading/math K-5 Title I teacher at Nags Head Elementary School.

In the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program, these teachers are detailed through a special agreement between the National Park Service and their school districts to be Teacher-Rangers at one of the Outer Banks Group parks for eight weeks in the summer of 2010. During the detail assignment, they are uniformed as National Park Service rangers and perform various duties in the parks, including developing and presenting education programs for the public, staffing visitor centers and lighthouses, and receiving special training from park staff on interpretive techniques, and the parks' natural and cultural resources. Using the in-depth training and experiences they are receiving, they will be creating lesson plans to use in their classrooms and share with other teachers.

In April 2011, during National Park Week, the Teacher-Rangers will wear their National Park Service uniform to school and visit classrooms to discuss their summer as a park ranger while engaging students and other teachers in activities that relate to America's national parks.

The Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program has many benefits. Participating Teacher-Rangers obtain a wide range of knowledge and skill by working with park staff. Hyde and Dare County Schools will benefit from the Teacher-Rangers who have learned to apply new techniques for engaging multiple learning styles. Hyde and Dare County students will be better able to connect to our nation's heritage through the experiences of their Teacher-Ranger and their exposure to treasured national park landscapes.

"The National Park Service could have no better ambassadors in our schools than teachers who have developed a personal connection with our national parks," stated Outer Banks Group Superintendent Mike Murray. "We very happy to have these Teacher-Rangers from Hyde and Dare County Schools with us this summer and wish them much success with all of their endeavors."