A Free State High School teacher has earned a Kansas biology teacher of the year award from a cohort in her field who commended her community-based environmentalism.
Julie Schwarting has been named the 2024 Outstanding Biology Teacher for Kansas. The annual award is presented by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), aimed at recognizing educators in grades seven through 12 in each of the 50 states as well as provinces and territories.
“One of the reasons that my application was what they chose, or what made it stand out, was that I did a lot of stuff within the community,” Schwarting said. “That there was a lot of outreach and people coming into the school and doing the prairie and all of that stuff. So that was really great to be acknowledged for that. It was a surprise, but a wonderful surprise.”
Schwarting, an NABT member for years, was selected for the award after she was nominated and then submitted an application.
As the Free State’s Garden/Environmental Club sponsor, Schwarting works with students to sow, tend to, and study native plants, vegetables and more.
In a summer 2021 class Schwarting taught for freshmen who needed to fulfill a biology credit after a year online due to COVID-19, students built a permaculture garden. Throughout the height of the pandemic, students continued adding to the garden and outdoor learning classroom.
As of 2023, each school site in the district has an on-campus garden. Helping youth add to that legacy is an invaluable feeling, Schwarting said.
“It’s kind of cool to see it grow and change as, you know, students are coming through and leaving their own mark on the school culture,” she said.
A few weeks ago, Free State’s garden area, located on the east side of the school building, was mowed down to dirt due to a district miscommunication. Native plants, vegetable swales and a rain garden that student gardeners were caring for over the summer were destroyed, compounding a pattern of similar incidents that have occurred there.
Fortunately, Schwarting said, the native plants are likely to grow back since their roots are dug deep. The district has committed to helping gardeners replant and maintain future efforts.
Community partners, such as Courtney Masterson, of Native Lands Restoration Collaborative, have lent their expertise to Free State over the years. Beginning in 2013, Schwarting collaborated with KU researchers, including Helen Alexander, on an extensive prairie restoration project in the back, northwest corner of the Free State campus. The space has since become a staple research area for high schoolers.
Among other projects Schwarting has led students in include constructing a rain garden at a local senior living facility, a collaboration in the Free State garden with Deerfield Elementary School and more.
Deputy Superintendent Larry Englebrick, who’s currently the acting superintendent, announced Schwarting’s award during the school board meeting on Aug. 12.
“As a former biology teacher, I would like to personally thank Julie for all the hard work she does and congratulate her on this excellent award,” he said.
Schwarting has been working in Lawrence Public Schools since 2002 and was previously a teacher at Bishop Seabury Academy. At Free State, she instructs environmental science and biology, incorporating visits to local wastewater treatment plants, nature preserves and other field trips.
“It’s been such a great experience,” Schwarting said. “I came to teaching late in life, but it sure has been fulfilling. I get all nervous about going back to school, and I get there like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s why I’m here.’”
Learn more about the NATB on its website, nabt.org.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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