Cindy Kilpatrick has been a leader in incorporating environmental lessons into every classroom at Oil City Magnet School in Oil City, Louisiana. As the Environmental Science Facilitator, she coordinated more than 100 field trips in 2009-2010 alone, helping students learn about connections to the environment at a grocery store, a landfill, a hospital, and a power plant.
Using PLT to anchor the environmental education program, Oil City has become the highest performing Title I school in the state. Cindy was inspired by PLT to help students create a nature trail, garden, and bird feeding and watching stations, among other projects. Cindy and her students use the school greenhouse to hold a “plant camp” each year where community residents can store their houseplants for the winter. The students use the fees they collect to purchase gardening supplies.
A teacher for more than 34 years, Cindy led the initiative to make Oil City a PLT-certified school, and Oil City is now part of PLT’s GreenSchools pilot program with a Learn and Serve grant. She also teaches pre-service teachers at Louisiana State University in Shreveport to use PLT. Cindy has spoken at numerous state and national conferences, and she regularly hosts visitors from other schools to learn from Oil City Magnet School’s successful model.
“Through Mrs. Kilpatrick’s guidance, Oil City School has received national recognition as a leader in environmental science education. Her use of PLT activities encourages student participation and resulted in students achieving academic success.”
– Mike Irvin, Oil City Magnet School Principal
Cindy was named National PLT Outstanding Educator in 2011.
Vanessa Bullwinkle
Vanessa Bullwinkle
