Get to Know Jonathan Smith, Mississippi PLT State Coordinator

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. When you first meet a PLT State Coordinator, there’s always something special about them. Warm, fun, full of life, enthusiastic, and welcoming. They’re excited to be with you and share their passion for environmental education.

This month, meet one of our newer PLT State Coordinators, Jonathan Smith, who leads the PLT program in Mississippi and embodies all these wonderful traits.

Jonathan is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Mississippi Forestry Association. His passion for nature began early in life, and he aspires to continue becoming a better naturalist each and every day. In high school he volunteered at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, and he then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture from Mississippi State University.

Now he gets to share his love of nature with others.

“Environmental-based outreach education is a passion of mine, and PLT provides an excellent avenue to conduct that education.” Jonathan leads professional development workshops where he shares how to lead PLT activities. For him, the best part is seeing educators realize how easy it is to incorporate PLT.  “I get to see teachers express how they can use what is presented in the activity guide in their classrooms.”

What Engages Learners?

Jonathan says, “Find the best way to engage your students. Each student will respond differently to a PLT activity, so find out what engages your student or draws them in while you’re teaching, then use that by incorporating different PLT activities.” For one learner, they may love the hands-on component of an activity, and another enjoys being creative while learning about nature.

“My favorite PLT activity would have to be either ‘Birds and Bugs’ or ‘Web of Life’ (from Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide). They are my favorites because I get to incorporate different aspects of the ecology and the environment in fun and entertaining ways.” In these two activities learners are truly active participants – moving around the room or outdoor space – while learning!

It’s especially helpful to check out the At-a-Glance and Topic indices in the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide. Depending on what your learners are interested in, you can find activities to meet those interests. Do some students love working together in teams? Are there a few students who love public speaking? Are there others who are tech wizards? Want to get learners physically active or help them get in touch with their inner artist?

The beauty of PLT activities is that there is something for everyone.

Find Your Inspiration

For Jonathan, his inspiration comes in the form of nature and the others he works alongside.

While he inspires educators to bring nature to life in the classroom, Jonathan is personally inspired by the PLT facilitators he works with in Mississippi. “If I had to give a shoutout to someone, I’d pick Butch Bailey of the Mississippi State University Extension Service. He’s been a PLT facilitator since before I was brought on as the new state coordinator and has PLT workshops down to a science.”

Who inspires you? Is there another educator you work with who inspires you to incorporate different teaching methods or just always has a friendly smile on their face and makes you feel instantly at ease?

Personally, I’m inspired by our entire network of PLT State Coordinators. Getting to know Jonathan and spending time with him at last year’s PLT-WET-WILD conference was a lot of fun. He brings such positive energy, a welcoming spirit, warm smile, and laughter to every room he enters. In this photo from last year’s conference, Jonathan (pictured laying in the front) helped us get our silly and playful sides ready for an excursion in San Antonio. We’re lucky to have him leading the way with PLT in Mississippi!

Want to learn more about your state’s PLT program?

Visit plt.org/yourstate to get connected with a PLT State Coordinator near you!