Refuge hires new environmental educator
Marley Mech, a former science teacher at Gateway Charter Elementary School in Fort Myers, has joined the education team at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel as a part-time educator for the Wildlife on Wheels mobile outreach classroom.
Originally from Noblesville, Indiana, she has lived in Florida since 2008, and taught fourth- and fifth-graders at Gateway from 2019 to 2022.
“My favorite things to teach about are plants and animals,” Mech said. “What excites me most about working with the WoW team is that I get to reach so many people with conservation education. This is my passion and what I absolutely love to teach, especially in this beautiful state I call home. I look forward to working with a diverse population of students teaching concepts that I value.”
The WoW reaches more than 7,500 students each year, targeting Title I schools in the Tice and Lehigh Acres communities to teach about refuge wildlife and habitat and water quality in accordance with STEM and Sunshine State standards.
“We welcome Marley and already value her as an important asset to our team, which school administration and educators hail for its effectiveness in getting students excited about natural science and general learning about health and related topics,” Urban Education leader Melissa Maher, who heads the team, said.
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge supports both Mech’s and Maher’s positions, along with interns, maintenance and operation for the WoW.