MITCHELL – Mitchell High School teacher Robyn Embry received the Gene Stratton-Porter Environmental Science Award at the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc. convention in Indianapolis.
This prestigious award recognizes Embry’s accomplishments as a Hoosier environmental science teacher and the contributions she makes to her students and the community.
The nomination packet and letters of support written by colleagues and former students spoke of the curiosity, fun, and learning she brought to her students. They wrote of how she inspired her students to learn more, see possibilities, and want to make the planet safer.
Evanna Phelps, a former student, spoke of how Embry challenged her to see the world differently, and for the first time, she saw the natural world. She said, though soft-spoken, that Embry always had command of her classroom and that students would lean in to hear everything she said.
Robyn Embry inspires her students to believe in what might seem impossible. Last year, one of her students performed triple wing replacement surgery on a disabled monarch. The butterfly was able to fly away. It takes an incredible teacher to instill that kind of interest in the environment and help students believe they can make a difference in the lives of another species.
Fellow teacher Becky Mason wrote about Embry’s many projects to bring the environment to her students and engage them in protecting it- such as getting solar panels for the school roofs and maintaining the pollinator garden on the school campus. Mason said her friend embodies the spirit of learning to preserve our environment.
Embry annually coaches two teams for the Indiana Envirothon. She said she enjoys watching the teams collaborate and support each other despite competing. Mitchell High School has placed in the top three teams at the regional Envirothon competition for 13 of the last 14 years and has gone on to the State Contest. And while they’ve not yet won the State contest- they are often in the top three.
She is an exceptional teacher who brings out the best in her students. One student said the secret to their success is that she helps them learn to work together and to help each other.
Embry said one of the things that makes the award so unique to her is that she and her mother both loved Gene Stratton Porter, and the last visit they took together was to Gene Stratton Porter’s home.
Congratulations, Robyn Embry, and thank you for being such a wonderful part of our school and community.
