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
CJ Gaidis, Visitor Services Attendant
Photos courtesy of CJ Gaidis
What’s your role at the Garden?
Greet and guide guests upon entry and exit. Learn Garden history and share knowledge with guests whether it be as a docent at the museum or driving the tram!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
As a landscape architect and arborist by trade, I have a great appreciation for the science behind all decisions. I come in with a smile and leave with a smile.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Mentor Anne Lewis. She exuded joy of life by living every day like it is the first.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Never feel like you “can’t.” The only thing holding anyone back is the fear of the unknown. Embrace it instead.
Erin McCann, Interpretation Assistant
Photos courtesy of Erin McCann
What’s your role at the Garden?
My job is to take complex scientific concepts and translate it into understandable information that guests to the Garden can connect with. My goal is to make science not only approachable, but exciting and engaging.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
It’s hard to pick out a specific instance. I do love it when guests take information that I have provided and begin to make their own connections with it, asking deeper and deeper questions to more fully understand it.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
I would definitely say that my mom has always been my inspiration. She’s an intelligent independent women who has run her own business for as long as I can remember and made sure that I learned to follow my interests while making sure I knew how to take care of myself.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
You have the right to pursue whatever path you want. If someone tries to lock the door in front of you, break it down or build a new door.
Dr. Michelle Martin Bonner, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Director
Photos courtesy of Michelle Martin Bonner, Mary Lou Olson, Nathan Kwarta
What’s your role at the Garden?
I lead inclusion and belonging strategies to strengthen cultural engagement, educational equity, and community partnerships. Building connections, creating meaningful experiences, and ensuring our community feels safe and welcomed.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Paving the way for cultural education to our leaders, staff, volunteers, docents to understand individual socialization, the connection to our mission, and to see how learning shapes how we welcome and serve others. Guiding the Garden’s journey toward earning the National Park Service Network to Freedom designation and grant funds with the support of an amazing team.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
My mom is my favorite inspiration. She has always been a motivational leader and tackled difficult situations and people when it was not popular and even risky.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Never dim your light for anyone. Your value and credibility is not determined by anyone’s perception.
Jeannie Gearin, Therapeutic Horticulture Programs Instructor
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Jeannie Gearin
What’s your role at the Garden?
Much of my therapeutic horticulture work is outreach to hospitals, cancer treatment centers, and family support organizations. I bring nature-based activities like fresh flowers to make arrangements and dried herbs to make tea. I also lead wellbeing walks at the garden, like Mindful Birdwatching.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
The best part of my work is seeing someone’s eyes light up with awe and wonder while connecting with nature.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Meg Lowman, a conservation biologist who strives to save forests around the world is a big inspiration to me. She sets very high goals for herself and understands the importance of education and stewardship as a vital part of conservation.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Follow your passion. You can work in a field you love.
Devon Jackson, Outdoor Educator
Photos courtesy of Devon Jackson
What’s your role at the Garden?
Most of my time is spent prepping and teaching hands on classes for school groups to explore different aspects of nature. When I am not teaching school groups, you may find me helping with other youth programs and events.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
One of my favorite things is to see the light bulb go off in children’s heads when they are making connections to something they may have learned in the classroom. Seeing joy and awe on people’s faces is something wonderful.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
There are two women who come to mind, my mother for her kind heart and fierce determination in life. The other my former professor Dr. Leslie Riley at Ohio Northern University, for her passion in the field of biology, as her ability to encourage, and engage everyone she meets. I loved the way she taught and connected with people!
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Spend time exploring nature near you, continue to ask questions, and strive to continue to learn.
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!
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