(Fort Washakie, WY) – The Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC) announced Fort Washakie Elementary teacher Reva Lobatos as their 2021 Educator of the Year. WAIC is a statewide nonprofit that provides agriculture and natural resource education.
Lobatos currently teaches 4th grade and is active in her school, education communities as well as WAIC programs. She has been involved with writing, revising, and teaching the Wyoming Stewardship Project (WSP) over the past four years.
“Using the Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom materials provided my students with information about the state they live in and inspired many of them to talk their grown-ups into exploring more of the state,” noted Lobatos. “Not only have we talked about caring for the land, water, and animals, but we have also introduced the idea of recycling and its impact on future generations. Students are becoming educators among their families as well. It is very inspiring!”
Over the past four years, Lobatos has taught the WSP to her fourth-grade students on the Wind River Reservation, according to WAIC. The lessons provide a meaningful way for Lobatos to discuss natural resources, the economic impacts of those resources, and caring for the land. This year, in her virtual classroom, Lobatos uses resources from WSP as she and her students explored Devils Tower and a Wyoming Trona mine through virtual field trips.
Reva summarized her experience, saying, “I believe in this program, I truly use it, and I am always inspired by the outcomes. I also appreciate the effort that has been put into producing such an exceptional curriculum. I am very thankful for the virtual adaptations this year!”
As the 2021 Educator of the Year, Lobatos will be awarded a cash prize of $2,500 through Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom. The award is funded by the Vermillion Ranch Limited Partnership, Mantha Phillips, and the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.
Learn more about WAIC by clicking here.