NEST Builders.

Every year more than 120 classroom teachers participate in NEST programs with their students. Many of these teachers also extend the lessons with Boxerwood through additional NEST projects back at school. These educators are creating more opportunities for environment-based learning throughout our local schools. 

​Boxerwood provides free professional development training, coaching and logistical support for NEST Teachers. NEST Teachers are at all stages of learning, practice, and leadership, but together, we're on the way.

Below is a list of teachers who have participated in NEST professional development along with their respective, school-based NEST projects.

BUENA VISTA City Schools
Kling Elementary
Katie Kirby, katie.kirby@bvcps.net
Mitzie Wheeler, mitzie.wheeler@bvcps.net

Enderly Heights Elementary
Allison Clark, gr. 4, allison.clark@bvcps.net
  • May Your Schoolyard
Erica Ferguson, gr. 4, erica.ferguson@bvcps.net
  • Map Your Schoolyard

Parry McCluer Middle School
Carrie Crawford, gr. 6, carrie.crawford@bvcps.net
Angie Patterson, gr. 7, angie.patterson@bvcps.net
  • Trout in the Classroom, Bay Club, Appalachian Trail project (2015)

Parry McCluer High School
Carlie Owens, gr. 8
Dan Alexander, Geology, dan.alexander@bvcps.net
  • Monitoring Noel's Run

LEXINGTON City Schools
Waddell Elementary
Melissa Rowsey, gr. 3, mcrowsey@lexedu.org
  • Birds for Thirds
Laura Squire, gr. 3, lsquire@lexedu.org
  • Birds for Thirds
Mindy Laubscher, gr. 3, mlaubscher@lexedu.org
  • Birds for Thirds
Kim Hickman, gr. 4, khickman@lexedu.org
  • Growing Native, Pollinator Project (2012)
Margaret Swisher, gr. 4, mswisher@lexedu.org
  • Pollinator Project (2012)
Carol Armstrong, gr. 5, carmstrong@lexedu.org
  • Woods Creek Lab

Lylburn Downing MS
Becky Sanders, gr. 6/7 math, bsanders@lexedu.org
  • Bay Club

ROCKBRIDGE County Schools
Central Elementary
Michelle Hughes, gr. 2, michelle_hughes@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Save Our Soil
Amy Henson, gr. 3, amy_henson@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Save Our Soil
Melanie Hickman, gr. 3, melanie_hickman@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Save Our Soil
Sonya Cauley, gr. 3, sonya_cauley@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Save Our Soil
Josy Hu, gr. 3, josephine_hu@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Birds for Thirds
Liz Schmidt, gr. 4, liz_schmidt@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Growing Native
Teresa Torrence, gr. 4, teresa_torrence@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • "I teach science and math to 40 students. In the past few years, my student and I have mapped out a food garden, gathered acorns (and grouped them) for a Virginia forestry project, tried out a birdcam for a winter bird feeding investigation, raised trout, and harvested sunflower seeds for a project TBD.  My students also researched and won a grant for a return trip to Glen Maury Park where they helped clean the park (sorting and weighing recyclables). This year I'm interested in starting a worm farm and ????"
Jeremy Cosgriff, gr. 5, jeremy_cosgriff@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Trout in the Classroom

Fairfield Elementary
Coleen Cosgriff, gr. 3 (on leave 2015-16)
  • Whoo's Here (owl project using schoolyard)
Rick Bain, gr. 4, ricky_bain@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Schoolyard Mapping Project, Fairfield School Garden, Rockbridge Rivers Project I, Growing Native, Student-led Recycling
Cathy Whitesell, gr. 5, cathy_whitesell@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Rockbridge Rivers Project 

Mountain View Elementary
Tammy Nicely, gr. 3, 4, 5 science, tammy_nicely@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Trout in the Classroom, Pollinator Project (2012)

Natural Bridge Elementary
Susan Mahood, gr. 3, susan_mahood@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Birds for Thirds, Save our Soil, Student-led Recycling

Maury River Middle School
Crissie Abell, gr. 6, crissie_abell@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Woods Creek Project, Weathering at the Cemetary​
Sarah Hockman, gr. 6, sarah_hockman@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Woods Creek Project, Trout in the Classroom, Weathering at the Cemetary​
Gretchen Hall, gr. 7, gretchen_hall@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Woods Creek Project, Trout in the Classroom, Bay Club
Julie Lipscomb, gr. 7, julie_lipscomb@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Woods Creek Project, Trout in the Classroom
Sarah Schultz, gr. 8, sarah_schultz@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Woods Creek Project
​Terri Wheeler, gr. 8, terri_wheeler@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • Woods Creek Project
Molly Marshall, Agriculture, molly_marshall@rockbridge.k12.va.us
  • River Monitoring, Aquaponics, Composting and more