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Jeffrey Langbehn
Jeanette
Romano
Clifford
Duggan
Leonard
White
Tom Buford
Joyce
VanSessen
Lara Gonzalez, Enviroroom
Meet Lara C. Gonazlez:
In 2005, I became involved with Environmental Education through Lake
County Solid Waste Management District (District) and was hired as
an intern. After a few months into the internship I was offered a
full-time position as the Assistant Educator located at the
District’s Environmental Education Center in Hammond, Indiana. I was
then promoted to be one of the Environmental Education Coordinators
and am currently responsible for the implementation of mobile
education programs and field trip visits to the Enviroroom in
Merrillville.
Today, through the Environmental Education Coordinator’s efforts,
recycling and waste reduction education is taking place in all 19
municipalities throughout Lake County, Indiana. In 2007, the
District’s education team received the Governor’s Award for
Environmental Excellence. In 2008, I received the Lake Michigan
District’s Board of Directors Two Way Interactive Connection in
Education (TWICE) award for my contributions to environmental
education in distance learning.
I graduated from Indiana University in May 2004 with a B.S. in
Public Affairs and a concentration in Environmental Management. I
currently reside in Crown Point, a community making great strides in
their environmental efforts. For fun, I attend high school football
games as well as White Sox games. I am a proud mommy to Icculus
“Iccy” the bulldog.
Kristin Sheets, Douglas Environmental Education Center
Meet Kristin R. Sheets:
In 2008 I joined the Lake County Solid Waste Management District (LCSWMD)
as an Environmental Education Coordinator. I primarily work with the
District’s Enviromobile program. This program allows us to visit
schools throughout Lake County, Indiana to provide a wide array of
environmentally themed, hands-on programs for the students. I also
host field trips at The Douglas Center, located in the Miller
section of Gary, Indiana. LCSWMD has teamed up with the Indiana
Dunes National Lakeshore to offer award-winning programs and guided
exploration of the Dunes at this location.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Speech
Communication from Ball State University in 1999. Upon graduation, I
entered the intense world of event planning and marketing. After
nearly 10 years in that industry, I knew it was time to pursue other
endeavors, so I returned to school to pursue a lifelong ambition of
teaching. In July 2007 I earned my Masters in Education from
National Louis University where I graduated with honors. When it
came time to pursue a teaching job, my priorities were re-routed
when we welcomed our amazing son, Turner, into our lives! He joined
his 4-legged sister, Stella, whom we adopted from a rescued litter
of puppies in 2004. Approaching Turner’s first birthday, I began
preparing to go back to work. Fortunately, my luck continued as
there was an opening at LCSWMD!
Today, with an abundantly capable 4-year-old, our priorities are
happily shifting again! My husband, Joe, along with Turner and I
anxiously await the arrival of our little man’s younger sibling in
early 2012! What an amazing big brother he is going to be as our
family continues to grow!
I am passionate about education and community outreach which
encompass my vision to activate awareness of our Earth, its
resources and habitats.
Angela Petyko, Hammond Enviromental Education Center
Meet Angela:
As an Environmental Education Coordinator with the Lake County Solid
Waste Management District in Lake County (Northwest), Indiana, I
manage the Environmental Education Center located in Hammond, IN.
Here I host field trips, tours and other free environmental programs
for Lake County school groups, scout groups, local businesses and
public visitors. In addition to my work at the Environmental
Education Center, I also coordinate the District’s Enviromobile
program, through which I visit local schools to provide hands-on,
environmental programs in classrooms.
In May 1997 I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental
Science and Biology with a concentration in education from
Manchester College nestled in North Manchester, IN. As a student I
coordinated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey project in
which I surveyed waterfowl activity at designated wetland habitats
in Kosciusko County, IN. I also conducted research on the
biodiversity of the Eel River in North Manchester. In January 1997 I
researched intertidal nudibranchs (sea slugs) at Friday Harbor
Laboratories, San Juan Island, WA. Since then I have worked in the
environmental and education fields. Spring 2011 marks my 9-year
commitment to the District and to providing environmental education
for Lake County. As a part of my education responsibilities I
continually develop hands-on, clean water management activities for
students. Most recently I am focused on piloting the Clean Water
Trout in the Classroom Project. The Environmental Education Center
itself houses Indiana’s first and only Indoor Trout Stream,
constructed in 2002.
I am an avid recycler and love to be outdoors. My husband, Rob, is a
2nd grade teacher and our daughter, Adelle, will be 1 year old on
December 10, 2011. We are also the proud parents of 2 cats, Hershey
and Punky, and a guinea pig named Rocky. We spend our time cuddling,
playing and laughing with Adelle. We love to watch her learn and
explore. Our free time is spent with family, reading, visiting
weekend farmer’s markets, watching our favorite shows or talking by
the campfire in our backyard.
Developing a sense of environmental awareness and appreciation
within the thoughts and actions of the public, especially children,
continues to be my primary goal. The use of science and research as
tools to provide an understanding of our natural world, I believe,
will provoke an overall sense of responsibility toward our
environment. I am passionate about education, research, and
community outreach which encompass my vision to activate awareness
of our Earth, its resources and habitats.
Racine Kovach, Hammond Environmental Education Center
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