Virginia Frissell, a science resource teacher at Twin Lakes Elementary School in Tampa was named The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Water Steward of the Year.
Frissell was chosen for her “Water Everywhere — Put It First — Make It Last” project. Her project was chosen from seven finalists. Twin Lakes Elementary is in the District’s Hillsborough River Basin.
Frissell was honored at the Governing Board’s October meeting.
“I appreciate all of the District’s help,” said Frissell. “The educational resources are always being used in our school and we are always coming up with new projects to put them to use.”
Frissell used a District grant, as well as funding from other sources, to educate and engage students in water resources by planting a drought-tolerant garden. The project was tied in with a student’s Eagle Scout project, which involved purchasing concrete benches and writing a youth grant for art supplies for wildlife reflections.
The drought-tolerant garden serves as an ongoing educational tool as her K-5 students continue to keep it up and add to it.
“The kindergarten students learn about the water cycle then build on that knowledge each of the following years,” said Frissell. “They also get a chance to help with the garden and even though they might not fully understand why we are doing the things we do, such as mulching, they love it anyway.”
Frissell also has students who have moved on to middle school return.
“Students come back to visit the garden and see how big the trees have grown or what has changed,” said Frissell. “When they see the trees and plants they planted are still thriving, they take pride in it.”
The educational benefit of Frissell’s project also reaches beyond her elementary students. Middle and high school students also volunteer to assist her students with their ongoing efforts.
Frissell also gets help from older students and family members when they hold special cleanup days on designated Saturdays. She says when they are planning to hold a clean-up day all she has to do is send home an announcement with her students and to the high schools and people come.
The Water Stewardship Awards program recognizes excellence in the following categories: wetland systems restoration and preservation, water supply and conservation, water resources education, uplands restoration and management, water quality.
Applicants were from private businesses (commercial and agriculture), government agencies, individuals/communities (volunteers, business service clubs, and non-government organizations) and educational institutions.