Schools Receive Award for DEP LIFE Program

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is recognizing Franklin County schools for their involvement in DEP's award-winning Learning in Florida's Environment (LIFE) program.

Thursday's presentation to the Franklin District School Board acknowledged the contributions of the local partners that helped the LIFE program secure the 2007 Coastal America Partnership Award.

"Franklin County was instrumental in establishing the first LIFE site which has led to an expansion in several other school districts in the state," said Erik Lovestrand, DEP's Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve's (ANERR) education coordinator. "The LIFE program involves hands-on, in the field science instruction for Franklin County's seventh graders that teaches them science research concepts and will help them towards becoming better stewards of the local environment."

In his remarks, Lovestrand praised the efforts of Tony Tindell, at St. George Island's state park, Prof. Barbara Shoplock, affiliated with the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab, Jean Huffman with the St. Joe Buffer Preserve, and Lisa Bailey, with the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve.

He also expressed thanks for the work of Assistant Superintendent Mikel Clark, and local science teachers Spencer Tolbert, Heather Friedman, Margy Oehlert and the late Helen Cortopassi.

Clark said plans are now underway to follow up on Tolbert's request to build a dock on the bay fronting the new consolidated school. "Wheels are moving on that and we'll have that outdoor classroom over the bay," he said.

In November 2007, DEP's LIFE program received a 2007 Coastal America Partnership Award from the federal government recognizing the partnership between DEP and local schools to restore, protect and educate the public on the coastal environment.

As a partner to the LIFE program, the school district is a co-recipient of the 2007 Coastal America Partnership Award. School Superintendent Jo Ann Gander was presented with a 2007 Coastal America Partnership plaque acknowledging the contribution from teachers, school district administrators and students.

ANERR will host the entire seventh grade as part of the LIFE program this school year. Each student will participate in a series of outdoor environmental science labs throughout the school year.

The Coastal America Partnership was established in 1992 to protect, preserve and restore coastal watersheds by integrating federal actions with state and local government and non-governmental efforts. Federal partners include the Departments of Agriculture, Air Force, Army, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Navy, State and Transportation, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Executive Office of the President. To recognize outstanding partnership efforts, Coastal America created a national awards program in 1997.

Since 2004, nearly 3,500 future scientists and stewards have participated in the LIFE program. The LIFE initiative seeks to establish a series of field-based, environmental-science education programs around the state. Each of the nine existing programs is a partnership between the DEP and a local school district. The goal of each LIFE program is increased student achievement and teacher professional development in science, with the content and delivery varying from site to site.

For more information about the LIFE program, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/