Karen Heil is a 7th and 8th grade science teacher at PS 175 City Island in the Bronx.
City Island is a unique community that is surrounded by the Long Island Sound. As such, it lends itself to be the perfect “outdoor classroom” for Karen to engage her students in “real-world” science. Over the past several years, she has committed herself to bring in community partners such as City Island Oyster Reef, Billion Oyster Project and the Waterfront Alliance to enhance and provide a rich and diverse educational experience for her students.
Karen has incorporated the topics of climate change and sustainability into the existing NYS science curriculum, and has increased engagement with the Long Island Sound and Living Shoreline. Some of her initiatives at PS175 include:
- Building Partnerships with Community Agencies: Karen has invited community partners such as City Island Oyster Reef, Billion Oyster Project, National Wildlife Federation, Long Island Sound Study and the Waterfront Alliance to work alongside students to study water quality, learn about storm surge and storm preparedness, conduct field studies on the growth and removal of invasive species, engineer oyster reef designs and prototypes and conduct several wild oyster surveys along the shores of several sites on City Island.
- Organize and facilitate Oysterama: Over the past three years, Karen has organized a community showcase event inviting parents and local community members into the classroom. Students demonstrate their knowledge about oysters and the importance of a healthy Long Island Sound in their lives.
- PS 175 Teach-In for Climate Justice: Karen initiated the participation in this worldwide event sponsored by the Bard Graduate Program in Sustainability. Each year, students from kindergarten to 8th grade participate in a day of learning and action, teaching them to be stewards for the environment.
Karen has been awarded the NYCDOE Big Apple Award for Teaching Excellence 2023 – 2024. She received the PS175 Flame of Inspiration Award in 2022. In addition, she works with the City Island Oyster Reef organization as an educational advisor.
