Teacher Of The Year Inspires Environmental Stewardship

James Ardoin, a science teacher at Pinelands Regional High School in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, has been named the school’s 2026 Teacher of the Year for his innovative 'From the Barrens to the Bay' ecology program. The initiative, which began as a single honors course after COVID-19 shutdowns, has grown into a districtwide effort encompassing field research, water quality monitoring, climate change initiatives, and large-scale restoration projects tied to the school’s property. The program focuses on three core goals: discovery, stewardship, and communication, encouraging students to study, protect, and share knowledge about local ecosystems like the Giffords Mill Branch Bogs and Tuckerton Creek watershed. Ardoin’s program uniquely utilizes the school’s 200-acre campus, which includes wetlands, wooded trails, and freshwater streams connected to Barnegat Bay. Students regularly conduct ecological monitoring and restoration activities, such as water testing and habitat improvement, while learning about the broader Pine Barrens ecosystem. The initiative has expanded rapidly since its launch in 2022, now offering multiple levels of ecology instruction and involving students from both high school and junior high. The program connects students with environmental professionals from organizations like Rutgers University, Stockton University, and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. Ardoin emphasizes that environmental science is not just textbook knowledge but a field with real careers and problem-solving opportunities in their own community. State agencies, including the New Jersey Department of Education’s Climate Change Grant program, have taken notice, visiting the district in April to observe projects like the junior high greenhouse and bog restoration efforts. Ardoin’s work has also gained recognition at statewide environmental conferences, where he and students presented findings alongside Dr. Kimberly Clark. The program’s success has attracted funding, with a nearly $1.4 million environmental initiative in development. By fostering a deep connection to their surroundings, Ardoin’s students are becoming active stewards of their local environment, proving that education and conservation go hand in hand.