Sheryl Sotelo

"Project Alaskan Action: Citizen Science" is the winning investigative monitoring and stewardship program created by Sotelo. It is designed to have students use their innate love of exploration of the natural world. Students will be involved in monitoring, studying and developing stewardship practices. The students will also contribute purposeful scientific data with a quest to increase scientific literacy and lifelong learning. Projects planned include conducting biological monitoring and habitat mapping of different regions of the local Kachemak Bay Estuary, as well as planning and organizing a school-wide marine debris cleanup with the Community Coastwalk of 2011. Conducting water quality and biological monitoring of Beaver Creek, a local salmon stream located near the school, will also be a part of the program. The entire student body of McNeil Canyon Elementary School will be able to participate in different aspects of the program. Working with area experts, agencies, families, and community members, students will gain a greater sense of community as well as apply and grow their reading, writing, math and critical thinking skills. Sotelo, a sixth-grade teacher, lives in Fritz Creek.