Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Antczak.
Hi Katie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As the daughter of two public educators in rural Georgia, I never expected (or really wanted) to end up as an educator. But life has a way of throwing you unexpected curveballs in the best possible ways. After graduating from a very small high school in middle Georgia (Johnson County High School), I attended the University of Georgia, intending to become a marine biologist. After much trial and error, speaking directly with professors, and struggles along the way, I found my way to the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. It was there that I truly blossomed and found my passion for wildlife, environmental education, and stewardship. However, even then, I did not expect to become an educator. After graduating with a BS in Forest Resources (Wildlife), I did a mix of fieldwork but fairly quickly realized I did not function well with short-term positions, so I knew I needed to grow and seek other career options. An Education Assistant opportunity opened at the Georgia Southern University Center for Wildlife Education, where I found joy in environmental education. I had outstanding mentors who encouraged me to pursue it as a lifelong career. I then worked as a Seasonal Naturalist at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (GA DNR). While there, I realized that though I was mainly working with K-12 students, the teachers who were bringing them on field trips were often learning just as much as the students. I recognized a gap and became passionate about finding ways to close it. How could I help science teachers learn more about the ecosystems in their communities and incorporate them, along with native wildlife and flora, into their science and ELA lessons? To get started, I decided to return to Georgia Southern University, where I completed my Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle Grades Science and ELA. I taught 7th grade life science for 5.5 years before my dream job opened – a job where I could directly support teachers in science education while also still pursuing environmental education. Today, I am the Science Specialist for the Okefenokee Regional Education Service Agency and the Director of Education for Okefenokee Swamp Park, Inc.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My first year in the formal classroom was beyond hard. I was still completing my Master’s while working full-time. Although I had wonderful training through the GSU College of Education, nothing could have prepared me for my first year teaching. To this day, I have big respect for ALL new teachers, regardless of their background and training. There are, quite literally, dozens of education-related acronyms, paperwork, lesson plan formats, etc. to keep up with, along with understanding and getting to know each student, parent phone calls, maintaining rigor, it’s just a LOT. It wasn’t until my 5th and final year in the formal classroom that I finally felt like I was a “good teacher.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As the Science Specialist for Okefenokee RESA, I develop professional learning opportunities for teachers in 8 local school districts. I also collaborate with the GA Department of Education Science Team to disseminate important information about the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science, important updates, high school credit requirements, etc. I also report to and collaborate with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Regional Education Center team. I support OK RESA members’ systems by providing Okefenokee Swamp Park Outreach Programs and Field Trip services to K-12 science teachers throughout the Okefenokee RESA district.
As the Director of Education for Okefenokee Swamp Park, Inc., I wear many more hats! For the OSP, I coordinate local field trips to the Okefenokee Swamp Park and Okefenokee Adventures, conduct outreach programs in local schools, train interpretive naturalists at both sites on our master interpretive plan, develop interpretive signage and wayfinding, collaborate with public and private partners, assist in facilitating grant writing and executing grants, oversee the state and federal permits required for the OSP to house captive wildlife for educational purposes, and implement professional learning experiences in the Okefenokee Swamp for educators.
I am most proud of the hard work that others and I have done to transform the Okefenokee Swamp Park into a truly educational, stewardship, and outdoor recreation-focused organization/business. We have worked so hard to get more students and adults outdoors, in the Okefenokee, and experiencing it first-hand.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I find great joy in helping others experience the Okefenokee, especially for the first time. People often think of wetlands, especially blackwater wetlands like the Okefenokee, as total wastelands (stinky, gross, alligator-ridden, dangerous), but when they visit for the first time, they see it’s actually a place of awe and wonder. There is truly no other place like it. The fact that I get to witness their experiences and guide them through them is truly exciting.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau once said, “We only protect what we love, we only love what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught.” I love that quote, but personally I would change it to “We only protect what we love, we only love what we understand, and we only understand what we EXPERIENCE.” Just teaching about the Okefenokee isn’t enough. You really have to experience it to understand it, and you can only experience it by visiting. I truly enjoy providing experiences!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.okeswamp.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okefenokeeswamppark/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okeswamp
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okefenokee-swamp-park
- Other: https://www.okresa.org
