Monica Cooper, a first-grade teacher at Gus Franklin Jr. STEM Elementary School in Victorville, CA is humbled and honored for the privilege task of educating Adelanto Elementary School District (AESD) students. “Teaching is a rewarding profession, “she shares.  “I am a proactive educator who deeply cares about the future of students, their families and education.”

A MEEC Teacher Ambassador and lifelong learner, Monica advocates for quality professional learning (PL). She encourages her colleagues to actively participant in MEEC sponsored events.  “MEEC PL opportunities introduce educators to best practices, strategies and hands on activities to create a solid educational foundation for students to experience environmental learning. MEEC workshops empower teachers to expose students to science with fun and engaging activities and lessons,” she states. The CA Environmental Education Intuitive (EEI) curriculum is her favorite-shared MEEC resource. EEI uses environmental literacy as a context to help students learn science and history-social science.

After attending many MEEC’s sponsored trainings, Monica’s quest for learning more about environmental literacy became a passion. Her passion as a learner led her to volunteer as a facilitator for Population Education, Project Wild, Project Learning Tree and Project WET.  “MEEC is the catalyst for many educators and their students on the topic of the environment and science.  By collaborating, supporting and inspiring others with similar goals or interests to come together to bring about quality PL on the environment I am grateful to MEEC. “