PISCATAQUIS CO., Maine — Most everyone can recall a teacher that positively influenced them and helped pave the way to their career success. Each year, the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District’s (PCSWCD) Board of Supervisors nominates an educator from the county to receive the Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year Award. This year’s award recipient is Heather Doherty of Piscataquis Community Secondary School (PCSS).
Mrs. Doherty began her teaching career at PCSS 14 years ago. Prior to her teaching career, she obtained a degree in Environmental & Soil Science from the University of New Hampshire. After graduating, she worked for Acheron Engineering in Newport. Heather explained to PCSWCD Educational Coordinator Kacey Weber that she “very much enjoyed her work in that field, but really wanted to do something to make a difference. I thought, what better way to have a positive impact on the environment than to teach.”
Doherty has gone above and beyond to create opportunities for her students to learn in and about the outdoors. In her first year at PCSS, she was approached by then school board member George Nuite, who encouraged her to get involved with Envirothon. Since that time, Heather has advised Envirothon teams each year. Her 2013 team won the State Envirothon and competed in the National Envirothon Competition. Her 2017 Envirothon team placed 3rd at Regionals and 6th out of 12 teams at the States competition. Mrs. Doherty “loves seeing that spark in her students and how Envirothon provides opportunities for them to work right alongside natural resource professionals, showing them options for rewarding, successful careers in Piscataquis County.” Heather worked with the PCSWCD “BioBlitz” at the District’s Law farm in the fall of 2016. The exceptional work her students put forth resulted in them receiving the Maine Woods Forever 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award.
Heather Doherty has been awarded a State of Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation & Forestry Bureau of Parks and Public Lands Recreational Trails Program grant to work with students and community members to build a handicap accessible nature trail connecting PCSS and PCES. “Students will be involved in all aspects of this project, from design to construction and everything in-between. It has been a great community project to be involved in and allows a wonderful opportunity to get students further engaged in the outdoors.” Doherty also noted that “these students are going to be the generation that helps protect and conserve our environment, so my goal has always been to get them re-exposed to the outdoors, so that it’s a part of them and they have an appreciation for our natural world.”
Doherty has spent the entirety of her teaching career prioritizing the importance of educating students about conservation biology, environmental studies and the outdoors. Her enthusiasm for education generates visible interest in her students and has inspired the staff and board of the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District will be honoring Heather at the Underclassmen Awards Ceremony at Piscataquis Community Secondary School on Thursday, June 15th at 8:30AM. The public is welcome to join the District and school community as they celebrate Mrs. Doherty and present her with this well-deserved award.
–Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
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