Washington, D.C. — Project Learning Tree^® (PLT), the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, named Janis Stewart of Alabama, Peggy Vaughn of Colorado, John Guyton of Mississippi, Wendy Oellers of New Hampshire, and Kathryn Felder of South Carolina, 2003 Outstanding Educators of the Year at the international PLT conference held in Huron, Ohio.

These outstanding educators exemplify the criteria of the award: exceptional teaching skills, commitment to the PLT curriculum, exemplary use of PLT in classroom projects, and sustained use of PLT. Otherwise, though, they represent the diversity that is one of the strengths of PLT: they work in different parts of the country, in rural and urban communities, and with all ages of learners.

Stewart is the principal of Meadowview Elementary School in Selma, AL and has been actively involved in the environmental education community for some time. As the president of the Alabama Science Teachers Association, Stewart has fostered and encouraged other schools to participate in and utilize PLT activities. She has developed a small arboretum on her school campus where students can engage in classroom activities, learn about trees, and simply study.

Vaughn teaches a fourth/fifth grade combination class at Pomona Elementary School in Grand Junction, CO. Environmental education has been a big part of Vaughn's lesson plans since she began teaching over 25 years ago. Having many environmental service-learning projects on her resume, here are a few she's overseen: "Shade the Playground," a project to plant trees at her school; science fair, classroom mini-farm, a bird migratory map, and a school science park and outdoor classroom where she wrote a grant to purchase 5 acres of condemned land to help students in cleaning it up and developing a nature trail.

Guyton is the 4-H Associate Specialist for Environmental Education at Mississippi State University Extension Service. Integrating students with their natural environment plays a big role in Guyton's method of environmental education. He created a statewide infrastructure for environmental education by organizing the Mississippi Environmental Education Alliance, the MEEA. From there began Project CARE which stands for Caring Adolescents Reshaping the Environment.

Oellers is a second and third grade teacher at Gilford Elementary School in Gilford, NH. For her, teaching about the environment "…is a natural hook" to get kids excited about learning. Oellers believes that kids are natural scientists and they want to know why and how. Encouraging her students to think about the environment from a new perspective has been the impetus for her newest project. Her students have decided to work together to design a trail map of the woodland for visiting community members. In addition, they will include detailed drawings and interpretive information about the animals and plants that visitors may see when using the trails.

Felder is a third grade science teacher at Sheridan Elementary School in Orangeburg, SC. One of her many accomplishments, she successfully started a recycling program in her school, which spread to the entire school district. Felder also helped develop a Carolina Fence Garden and Backyard habitat at Sheridan Elementary School, which were the first garden and outdoor classroom areas to be certified under the Habitat Steward Program sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

"While our award winners are quick to thank others for supporting them in their endeavors, they are the ones who have rolled up their sleeves and dedicated themselves to providing quality environmental education for their students," Kathy McGlauflin, National Director of Project Learning Tree said. "They sincerely deserve this recognition."

Project Learning Tree is the success that it is because of the network of dedicated educators and volunteers such as the five 2003 Outstanding Educators of the year, that actively implement the program. Since 1994, national PLT has officially recognized the dedicated efforts of the people that bring PLT into the classroom, nature centers, universities, and youth groups.

For more information please contact Amanda Rudy, Communications Coordinator, 202.463.2442, Email arudy@forestfoundation.org or visit PLT at www.plt.org.

Project Learning Tree^® (PLT) is the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation. PLT uses the forest as a "window on the world" to increase student's understanding of our complex environment and to help students learn the skills they need to make sound choices about the environment. Developed in 1976, PLT has a network of more than 300,000 trained educators using six curricula covering the total environment. The American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization, works for healthy forests, quality environmental education, and to help people make informed decisions about our communities and our world.