Celebrating Katy Paquette
An Innovative Educator of the Mississippi River
Nestled between the neighborhoods of Beaver Lake Heights and Lincoln Park in east St. Paul is the vibrant school community of Nokomis Montessori-North Campus, where Katy Paquette has become a leader of innovative teaching and holistic environmental learning. She was honored on July 11th with the prestigious Big River Teacher of the Year Award for her outstanding contributions to education within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Katy's journey is as inspiring as it is impactful.
A Journey Rooted in Passion and Purpose
Katy's path to teaching began with a strong curiosity about the natural world and a desire to make a difference. Initially torn between a career in medicine and education, she embarked on a unique journey that saw her serve as a medical technician in the Air National Guard at the age of 17 while pursuing a degree in Elementary Education at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Her career path later involved various teaching roles, including a position as a Naturalist Fellow at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, Minnesota. This experience allowed her to witness the profound importance of environmental education firsthand until she found her home at Nokomis Montessori School as a science teacher, where she seamlessly blended her passion for teaching with her love for environmental education and the Mississippi River.
The Value of Outdoor Education
Katy firmly believes in the transformative power of outdoor education. She notes that outdoor place-based education promotes physical health, mental well-being, and social skills, and encourages students to be active while providing opportunities for teamwork and collaboration. By developing a connection to nature, Katy feels she is developing students who are more likely to become passionate advocates for the environment and to carry these values into adulthood. She states, “I believe outdoor place-based education is essential for fostering a well-rounded, engaged, and environmentally conscious generation. It brings learning to life, instills a love for the natural world, and prepares students to be thoughtful, responsible stewards of our planet.”
Connecting Students with the Mississippi River
At Nokomis Montessori, Katy's approach to education is deeply rooted in place-based holistic learning. She recognized the intrinsic value of connecting students with their environment, so she crafted a comprehensive curriculum centered around the Mississippi River as part of her obtaining a Montessori teaching certificate. This thematic unit integrated multiple subjects, including geography, history, art, science, mathematics, and language arts, creating a holistic educational experience that resonated deeply with her students. Activities centered on mapping, exploration of the river’s significance and its ecosystem, measuring distances, analyzing data, reading and writing about the river, and creating river-inspired art pieces.
Her expansive lesson structure led to the discovery of the educational online programs associated with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, which are part of Mississippi Park Connection’s education web pages. The online resources she used included virtual classroom visits with a national park ranger, and learning about the park’s ecosystem and history with the Living River Online and Working River Online programs. These online experiences made it easy for Katy to provide many amazing ways to integrate the Big River into her classroom.
In particular, Katy’s students enjoyed the Big River Journey Online offering. She found her students absolutely loved The Journey of a Raindrop video in the crime-scene investigation section of Big River Journey Online. ‘We watched that video at least once a week throughout the year,’ said Katy, ‘to better understand the greater connection of a single water drop and a larger river system.’
Combining the online resources with hands-on activities, Katy fostered a sense of wonder and stewardship among her students. The impact was profound, as students not only learned academic concepts, but also developed a greater connection to their surroundings and a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
Looking Ahead
As Katy reflects on her achievements and looks toward the future, she remains dedicated to expanding her students' experiences with the Mississippi River. With plans to build on the success of her previous projects, Katy is excited about the upcoming school year and the opportunities it holds for further exploration and discovery.
In Celebration
Katy Paquette's story is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance in education. Her commitment to holistic, place-based learning has not only enriched the lives of her students but has also inspired a community of students to appreciate and protect their natural heritage. As we celebrate Katy's accomplishments, we are reminded of the impact that dedicated educators can have on shaping future generations while fostering a sustainable future for all. In honoring Katy Paquette with the Big River Teacher of the Year Award, we celebrate not just an educator, but a visionary who is shaping the future of education—one riverbank at a time.
The Big River Teacher of the Year Award honors teachers who build park education programs for their schools and support outstanding environmental education for children to learn about the great Mississippi River. Katy is the third recipient of this award.
Mississippi Park Connection’s youth education programs are generously funded by the National Park Foundation's Open Outdoors For Kids Grant Program, Xcel Energy Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, and generous members who contribute to the Ticket to Ride Scholarship Fund.