Burton Elementary School 6th grade science and social studies teacher, Amy Hochschild, was recently selected Teacher of the Year, for Excellence in Soil and Water Education, by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District nominated her for this outstanding effort in conservation education. Mrs. Hochschild will be honored at the Conservation Awards Luncheon at the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Meeting on Tuesday, February 26, at the Columbus Renaissance Downtown Hotel. Over her 28 years of service in the Berkshire Local Schools, Mrs. Hochschild has demonstrated exemplary efforts and dedication to conservation education. She was nominated by the Geauga Soil Water Conservation District after being named Teacher of the Year in the county earlier this school year. Mrs. Hochschild is extremely supportive of her students, and routinely engages with them for various creative, fun and instructional experiences, projects and activities. In doing so, she considers herself still learning and taking risks as an educator for the educational benefit of her students. Some of those included her creation of a land lab at the former Claridon Elementary School, coordinating Burton Elementary School’s 6th Grade Camp, serving as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (S.T.E.M.) Club advisor at the school with more than 50 participants, in addition to being the Science Olympiad advisor as well. To further align with the District’s commitment to Project Based Learning, Mrs. Hochschild has even developed a hands-on soil unit, where students will work with local farmers and community members to improve soil quality in the area. The Berkshire Local Schools officially congratulates Mrs. Amy Hochschild on being named Teacher of the Year in the State by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.