PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — Two Logan Elm educators have been recognized for more than 25 years of environmental leadership, earning honors at both the county and congressional levels for their dedication to conservation education.
Empress Bethel, a current Logan Elm Elementary teacher, and Lorrie Huysman, a recently retired middle school teacher, were celebrated at the Pickaway Soil and Water Conservation District’s (PSWCD) 82nd annual banquet. The duo received official certificates of recognition from the district, as well as the Outstanding Teacher Involvement Award, presented as a surprise by Congressman David Taylor.
A Quarter-Century of Impact
Over more than two decades, Bethel and Huysman launched several environmental initiatives across the Logan Elm School District to foster practical environmental consciousness among students:
- OWLS Club: Created the “Outdoor Wild Learning Spaces” club to give students hands-on experience in ecological stewardship.
- Morning Bird Program: Hosted early-morning sessions before the school bell rang to teach students how to identify local bird species.
- Upcycled Feeder Project: Partnered with school tennis programs to repurpose empty tennis ball containers into bird feeders.
- District Recycling: Established and expanded campus recycling programs to reduce school waste.
“It’s not something we have to do; it’s something we want to do,” said Mrs. Bethel when reflecting on her years at Logan Elm.
A Lasting Legacy
For Bethel, the true metric of success goes beyond awards. She noted that former students frequently reach out years later to share that their early experiences in these programs inspired them to pursue college degrees and careers in environmental science.
Logan Elm district leaders expressed deep gratitude for both educators, emphasizing that their decades of passion have shaped generations of environmentally conscious citizens across Pickaway County.
