Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – The environment and conservation are part of the Gulf Shores coastal community. One of the teachers at Gulf Shores High Schools has received national recognition for her efforts.

Krista Fleming was selected for the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. She was one of only eight educators in the Country to receive the award. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, recently announced the winners of the PIAEE on their website.

The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators award was established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act and seeks to recognize, support and bring public attention to the outstanding environmental projects performed by teachers who go beyond textbook instruction to incorporate methods and materials that utilize creative experiences and enrich student learning in K-12 education.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency posted the following statement upon publishing the award:

Mrs. Fleming, a teacher at Gulf Shores High School in Alabama, strives to redefine traditional classroom boundaries by immersing students in their unique coastal environment. She prioritizes experiential learning and research, exemplified by the various fieldwork and outdoor activities she conducts for her students to facilitate learning beyond the four walls of her classroom. Mrs. Fleming has spearheaded and designed multiple projects to engage and inspire students and the community. Among these, the Oyster Gardening Unit is particularly successful, with students paying weekly visits to a lagoon for research and restoration efforts. Mrs. Fleming partners with the local environmental group, Little Lagoon Preservation Society, and oyster experts from Auburn University to teach students about oyster restoration. Through various research endeavors—including statistical population estimates and measurements of oyster dimension, graphs of growth rates, calculations of water filtration capacities, and ecosystem services provided—students gain practical experience and an understanding of ecological concepts by employing modern tools and methodologies to draw insightful conclusions from data. 

Because of the surrounding coastal community, Mrs. Fleming often educates her students about their unique environment and the associated challenges of coastal living. By engaging them in conservation projects, such as dune restoration in collaboration with Gulf State Park and Dune Doctors, she instills a profound sense of environmental stewardship among her students. Additionally, Mrs. Fleming has mentored teachers in her school system, state, and nation through informative webinars, where others can learn from her established lesson plans, lessons learned, and guest speakers. Her influence has doubled enrollment in the Advanced Placement Environmental Science course, improved test scores, decreased chronic absenteeism, and increased the number of student awards in state competitions. Because of her mentorship, many students have chosen post-secondary studies in marine biology, sustainability, and graphic design, all of which were introduced through her curriculum.