Hosted by The Everglades Foundation’s Everglades Literacy Program team of educators, the 8th annual Everglades Teacher Symposium drew more than 180 teachers and educators from 91 schools, 13 counties, and five organizations across Florida.
Each year, the free, 2-day symposium allows teachers to participate in professional development sessions, share best practices, get creative, and network. Held at the Kovens Conference Center at Florida International University, the campus’s location near Biscayne Bay gave teachers the opportunity on July 21 to participate in field trips, including seagrass wading at Biscayne Nature Center, a Pelican Harbor Seabird Station behind-the-scenes tour and sunset cruise, and an airboat tour.
“More than 90 percent of environmental information for students comes from teachers,” said The Everglades Foundation’s Vice President of Education Jennifer Diaz. “If teachers aren’t equipped with the information, how will their students get it? Our annual symposium, in addition to classroom trainings and online courses throughout the year, is designed to educate and inspire the future stewards of America’s Everglades. The more students know about this vital ecosystem, the more they’ll want to protect it.”
An enlightening and entertaining series of presentations and interactive sessions included:
- Benji Studt, leader of Outreach and Science Communication at Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management, encouraged “listening to the land” to empower people to care, learn, and take action to protect natural wonders like the Everglades.
The Everglades Foundation’s Education team led “Mischief in the Mangroves,” a playful, interactive “Everglades evidence investigation. - The Foundation’s Director of Communications, Begoñe Cazalis, conveyed the power of storytelling with tips and clips from the Foundation’s 2024 Suncoast Regional EMMY-winning Everglades Stories series.
- Leslee Hoepner-Scruggs, an Everglades Champion School teacher at American Heritage School in Palm Beach, offered insights on building school culture with innovative ideas.
The Everglades Foundation’s Education team also led sessions on place-based scientific inquiry, and coding in the Everglades with robotics and storytelling.
“I left reinvigorated, excited, and inspired to dive into more work with Everglades literacy and our school community! I’m so thankful for The Everglades Foundation, not only as a teacher but a citizen of Florida! It is incredible to see an organization that gives so much back to our teachers and students,” said one 2025 Symposium Attendee and Everglades Champion School teacher.
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NOTE: Reprinted with permission from The Everglades Foundation.
