Missouri Ecological Services staff and fifth grade students at Lee Expressive Arts School. - FWS photo by Rick Hansen

Left to Right: ES Field Supervisor Charles Scott; ES Administrative Officer Becky Clearwater; CPS Superintendent Phyllis Chase; Lee School Principal Teresa VanDover; and ES Outreach Specialist Ashley Spratt. - FWS photo

Missouri Ecological Services Field Supervisor Charles Scott, Administrative Officer Becky Clearwater, and Outreach Specialist Ashley Spratt attended the 23^rd Annual Partners in Education Celebration in Columbia, May 9^th. 

The celebratory event, titled Measuring Success was hosted by Columbia Public Schools and honored businesses and organizations that donate their time and effort into local primary and secondary schools.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was honored as a 2006-2007 Partner in Education with Lee Expressive Arts School after Missouri Ecological Services piloted its first environmental education program with Lee’s fifth grade students.

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Chase praised the Partners in Education program by emphasizing the valuable learning environment local community members provide to students. As part of the Missouri Ecological Services SEEDS program, students at Lee Expressive Arts School learned the importance of conservation in ensuring the survival of many endangered species that live in Boone County.

“There is so much potential for our relationship with Lee Expressive Arts school to grow, and we hope to continue sharing our commitment to conservation with future generations of Lee students,” Scott said.