Jennifer Dobbins

Marietta Middle School science teacher Jennifer Dobbins has been selected as one of eight teachers from Oklahoma to attend a workshop in Yellowstone National Park.

Dobbins will be in Yellowstone for the grant-funded workshop from June 5 through 11, hiking five to eight miles daily, guided by an Experienced Yellowstone Science Educator who will be working to inform teachers about wildlife science and habitat among other things – all kinds of information that the educators can take back and share with their students.

“Ms. Tucker [Marietta Middle School Principal] sent out a flier to the science teachers in our building,” Dobbins said. “Our other two science teachers had previous commitments for that week, so I thought I’d apply, but didn’t really think I’d be accepted.”

Dobbins – and Tucker – were thrilled to find that Dobbins would be attending the workshop and gathering real life information about a place that many only dream of visiting.

“I am so excited that Mrs. Dobbins was selected to go to this workshop,” Tucker remarked. “It will be a wonderful experience for her, and she will be able to present some amazing lessons to our students.”

After the initial 6-day workshop, Dobbins and her cohorts will meet again in August and November on the OSU campus for follow-ups.

“When we go to OSU, we will receive more training and we will have the opportunity to share some data and gauge student response to the lessons we presented,” explained Dobbins.

While in Yellowstone, Dobbins will receive training and materials to bring back home that are designed to strengthen science content knowledge.

“I understand there’s going to be a lot of wildlife science, which is really interesting to students,” she added. “One of the lessons is about the reintegration of wolves back into Yellowstone, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Dobbins is anticipating the trip with great excitement.

“I’ve never traveled there before, and I’m going by myself, so it’ll be a real adventure for me,” she concluded.