March is Women’s History Month. Throughout history, women have left monumental impacts on the field of education. This month, we spoke to some of the incredible women of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, and Shaw Nature Reserve‘s education division.
Learn more about their careers, ambitions, and advice by reading on!
The Garden’s Education Division
Since its founding more than 165 years ago, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been committed to connecting people with plants and the wonders of the natural world. Today, education remains at the heart of everything we do. This includes educational opportunities for nearly 1 million visitors annually, strengthening science learning and teaching for students and teachers, and supporting sustainability and conservation efforts throughout the St. Louis community and around the world.
This commitment is deeply rooted in our mission. The Garden strives to deliver exemplary, experience-based education that increases understanding, appreciation and conservation of plants and the natural world, and inspires people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to think and act in sustainable ways.
To achieve this goal, the Garden’s team of professional, passionate educators focus on the following priorities:
- Reconnect people with nature. Inspire more children, families and people of all ages to spend time outdoors, exploring, appreciating and understanding how the natural world works. Through positive experiences with nature, reinforce the plant-people connection and foster lifelong learning.
- Increase young people’s interest in science and conservation careers. Inspire and enable students to become successful, caring citizens who value and practice conservation in their professional careers and personal lives. Develop the skills of educators in natural science content and pedagogy to enable them to help fill the pipeline of future thinkers, doers and problem-solvers.
- Propel the community toward sustainable living. Through training, education and outreach, support community-based efforts to influence attitudes and behaviors that promote healthy, sustainable lifestyles and life choices that contribute to the well-being of plants, people and the planet.
Meet the women in Education
Jennifer Smith-Simms, Public Education Programs Manager
Photo courtesy of Nathan Kwarta
What’s your role at the Garden?
I support the adult education, youth & family, scouts, and therapeutic horticulture teams. I lead TH (therapeutic horticulture) programs in the community and at the Garden, specifically groups from Society for the Blind, families at Ronald McDonald House, kids at St. Louis Crisis Nursery, and independent seniors living at Bethesda Gardens.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
This past year, our TH (therapeutic horticulture) programs were featured on Living St. Louis on PBS Channel 9. I am so proud of how far we have grown over the years and the team we have built that serves our community. Each person brings a special skillset to the team which benefits the community in so many impactful ways.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
My Aunt Judy has always been an inspiration to me. She is a strong, independent women who is true to herself and gives of her herself to her family, friends, and most importantly strangers. Her dedication to volunteerism for those who are struggling in life has help shape who I am today.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Be true to who you are. You are enough.
Jessica Griffard, Experiential Learning Coordinator
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Jessica Griffard
What’s your role at the Garden?
My role at the Garden is to be a bridge for people. I help young people explore potential “green” career paths by connecting them with Garden professionals for learning and mentorship opportunities. I work with Garden staff, as well as high school and college students in the St. Louis area, to create mutually beneficial experiences where students can learn about specific “environmentally-focused” careers like those that we have at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Although my role is new, my favorite part so far has been getting to know friendly people—our awesome Garden staff, professionals at similar institutions, and school district partners who are deeply committed to supporting youth. While I am only five months into this new Garden role, it’s been incredibly heartwarming to see how many people in our MBG and the St. Louis community genuinely want to help young people. They are what Mister Rogers would call “the helpers.”
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
More than anyone, my mother is my favorite female person and my deepest female inspiration. She continues to teach me how to be patient, empathetic, loving, person and also how to be brave and embrace the genuineness of who you are. My mom has been one of my greatest teachers. Another woman I admire is Jane Goodall. I admire how she gave names to the chimps she studied and not just numbers, how she advocated for animal rights and giving them a voice, and how she shared that two of her greatest teachers in her life were her mother and her dog.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Please don’t ever be afraid to be yourself. You belong. You matter. And just remember that poem from Amanda Gorman. “There is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it; if only we’re brave enough to be it.” Always shine your light.
Rachel Weller, Public Programs Coordinator
Photos courtesy of Rachel Weller
What’s your role at the Garden?
I plan the programs for adults and families at Shaw Nature Reserve and also lead several of them. This unique position allows me to meet and connect multiple generations with nature and also work with our talented contract staff.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Watching children grow up through our programs and meeting many of the adults that attend our programs and the fond relationship they have with us and this place. Our wonderful volunteers and contract staff! Overall, connecting people to nature and showing them how they can make a difference.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Jane Goodall embodies how to have a conservation career and be a mom. She showed how to dedicate yourself to both and that it is possible to excel in two areas at the same time.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Surround yourself with those who will mentor, encourage, and let you try. I started my career path in 6th grade so you are never too young to start!
Julie Hollenback, Adult Education Assistant
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Julie Hollenback
What’s your role at the Garden?
Within the Adult Education team, I help plan, facilitate, and teach adult classes here at the Garden. I get to work with Garden staff and instructors to create programming for the public, helping with guided walks and tours, food and cooking, well-being, and nature study.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I have had several opportunities to collaborate with coworkers across divisions to share the Garden’s mission through classes. My favorite has been a food series called Botany in the Kitchen, where I bring a Garden staff member and a local chef together to share work happening in the Garden through a universal language: food.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Dr. Maurina Aranda, my former science education research professor at SIUE has been a huge inspiration and role model when it comes to education. Her support in my career in informal education has given me the confidence to keep growing.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Be confident and excited about your work and share the things you are passionate about. A flame might catch from a shared spark.
We appreciate these ladies for sharing your journeys and inspiring words! Our teams at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, and Shaw Nature Reserve are grateful to have so much talent and passion within our Education division to share botany and sustainability knowledge with our communities.
Thank you for learning with us this Women’s History Month. Stay tuned to learn more of the Women of Education!
Leave a Reply