Please join us in welcoming our PRIDE Environmental Education Outreach Program Liaisons for the 2011/2012 school year. We thank the program partners in each county that enrolled their schools this year.

Below are brief biographies of each liaison. To view their photos in our Flickr gallery, click here.

NOTE: Harlan, Knox, Leslie and Wolfe Counties have enrolled in the program, and their liaisons will be named soon. Please check back.

Kody Christian — Lee County and Owsley County

This is Kody’s second year as the liaison for Lee and Owsley Counties. He says he enjoys working with the students and helping them learn. Outside the classroom, he co-owns Robots in Disguise, a screen printing shop in Booneville, and he plays in Our Hearts Hero, a Christian music group.

We thank our program partners. In Lee County, they are the Lee County Fiscal Court, Lee County Conservation District, City of Beattyville and Lee County Schools. In Owsley County, the partners are Owsley County Fiscal Court, Owsley County Conservation District, City of Booneville and Owsley County Schools.

Sue Christian — Breathitt County and Menifee County

Sue has been a PRIDE liaison since 2009, previously serving in Lee and Owsley Counties. She completed her teaching degree at Eastern Kentucky University in May.

Sue says: “I am looking forward to the upcoming school year and the exhilarating topics that the students and I will be discovering together. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Learning occurs through experience,’ by John Dewey.”

We thank our program partners, the Breathitt County and Menifee County Fiscal Courts.

Paul Flowers — Lawrence County

Paul became the county’s liaison in January 2011. He retired from a teaching career before moving here from Arizona.

He says: “My goals are to teach our young people to respect the environment and to support our teachers by bringing in lessons and activities tied to state-tested concepts and skills.”

We thank our program partner, the Lawrence County Fiscal Court.

Wonda Hammons — Clay County, Jackson County and Rockcastle County

Wonda is an active member of the Jackson County PRIDE Committee. When she was the county’s liaison for the 2009/2010 school year, she spearheaded a contest to create student-designed road signs with environmental messages. The signs are now visible across the county, and the project won a PRIDE award.

We thank our program partners. In Clay County, the U.S. Forest Service’s Redbird Ranger District is our partner. In Jackson County, the Jackson County Fiscal Court is the partner. In Rockcastle County, the program partners are the Rockcastle County Fiscal Court, Rockcastle County School System and Appalachia Science in the Public Interest.

Derrick Howard — Magoffin County

Howard earned his Bachelor’s degree in business administration and real estate from Morehead State University. He served as the Magoffin County liaison last year, too.

Derrick says: “I feel that it is important for everyone to have an interest in environmental education. This can be as simple as explaining to a child the dangers and consequences of littering. It is vital that we as educators, parents, families and friends unite and work together to spread the importance of keeping our environment clean and safe. We need to be aware that the environmental choices we are making today not only affect us, but they affect our future generations as well.”

We thank our program partner, the Magoffin County Fiscal Court.

Shellie Kendall — Taylor County (including Campbellsville Independent Schools)

This will be Shellie’s first year as a PRIDE liaison. A native of Taylor County, she learned conservation and respect for nature growing up on a family farm. She is a beef cattle and crop farmer.

Shellie says: “Education is the key to solving many issues. Each generation has a responsibility to protect and preserve the environment for the sake of future generations.”

We thank our program partners: Taylor County Fiscal Court, City of Campellsville, Taylor County Schools, Campbellsville Independent Schools and Taylor County Conservation District.

Cindy Looney — Perry and Pike Counties (including Hazard Independent, Pikeville Independent and St. Francis of Assisi)

Though new to the liaison program, Cindy has been involved with PRIDE for six years as an employee of Lightyear Network Solutions, formerly SouthEast Telephone. She is passionate about the PRIDE mission, which she sees as important to our communities. She will encourage students to take environmental education home.

We thank our program partners: Perry County Fiscal Court and City of Hazard; and Pike County Solid Waste.

Beth McDaniel — Laurel County (including East Bernstadt Independent Schools)

Beth will complete a Masters degree in school counseling in May 2012. She already has a Bachelors degree in psychology and a Masters degree in community counseling.

Beth says: “I believe the greatest thing we can do is reach our youth. We have raised our four daughters to be avid recyclers, as well as yearly participants in the Spring Cleanups at Laurel Lake and Wood Creek Lake.”

We thank our program partner, the Laurel County Fiscal Court.

Linda Rose — Morgan County

With more than 10 years of experience, Linda is a veteran of the PRIDE Environmental Education Outreach Program. She also has served as the county’s PRIDE Coordinator, a volunteer position, since PRIDE began in 1997.

Linda says: “My goals are starting the greenhouse and gardens at our schools this spring, teaching sustainability, working on county-wide recycling, and promoting Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools projects. I feel PRIDE has made great strides not only in cleaning up our environment, but also educating the public of the importance of a clean, healthy, sustainable environment.”

We than our program partners, Morgan County Fiscal Court and Morgan County Conservation District.

Sarah Talley — Bell County (including Middlesboro and Pineville Independent Schools)

This is Sarah’s second year as the Bell County liaison. With a degree in ecology, Talley gained experience in environmental education while working at state and national parks, including Mammoth Cave National Park. She now has a teaching license, and enjoys being an environmental educator.

Sarah says: “My greatest satisfaction is watching a passion for the environment ignite in the next generation.”

We thank our program partners, the Bell County 109 Board, Bell County Schools, Middlesboro Independent Schools and Pineville Independent School District.

Monica Walker — Pulaski County (including Science Hill and Somerset Independent Schools) and Russell County

Monica has 10 years of experience as an elementary school teacher. She earned her Masters degree in elementary education at Murray State University and her Kentucky Principal Certificate at Eastern Kentucky University. She is a certified gifted and talented teacher. She served as Pulaski County’s liaison last year.

Monica says: “I am excited to be working with students at their environmental fairs and teaching PRIDE environmental lessons and activities in the classrooms. I believe Kentucky is one of the most beautiful areas in the world and am confident this generation of students, armed with a great education, can preserve and protect the Commonwealth and the Earth.”

We thank our program partners, the Pulaski County and Russell County Fiscal Courts.

Amanda Wilson — McCreary and Whitley County (including Williamsburg Independent Schools)

Amanda has a Bachelors degree in elementary education and is working toward a Masters degree for reading and writing specialization. She was the liaison for Whitley County last year.

Amanda says: “I love sharing information and interesting facts about the environment with students, teachers and parents. The tree life cycle lesson is one of my favorite lessons because it fits in with the fall of the year and there are so many facts about trees most people don’t know.”

We thank our program partners. In McCreary County, they are the McCreary County School District, McCreary County Water District, McCreary County 109 Board and South Kentucky RECC. In Whitley County, the partners are the Whitley County Fiscal Court and Cumberland Valley Electric.

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