NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas 

Teacher part of school’s green movement

BY LYNN ATKINS Staff Writer

Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007

URL: http://www.nwanews.com/rhtn/Scholars/3207/

Ryan Finley grew up in a family that recycled, but it wasn’t something he thought very much about.

He was born in Lamar, Mo., which is about half way to Kansas City. He spent his first semester at University of Arkansas as a trainer for the football team and that was enough to convince him that he should become a teacher. Once he decided on a career in education, special education was an easy choice. He has a younger brother with special needs.

After he earned his master’s degree in special education, he was hired by Eastside Elementary School and has been in Rogers for all six of the years he has spent teaching. He is now at Grace Hill Elementary.

It was his wife, a fourth grade teacher in Springdale, who showed him how easy it was to work environmental issues into regular curriculum. Once he got going, it just snowballed.

When he contacted the Go Green Initiative through their Web site, he was already doing many of the things they recommend. He read about a summit on their Web site and realized that it was a chance to learn more about using environmental issues in the classroom, so he started looking for a way to attend.

Grace Hill Principal Jennie Rehl gave her O. K. and the Go Green Initiative waived the registration fees and offered to pay for his lodging. Finley started looking for help with plane fare and Marck Recycling, based in Cassville, Mo., agreed to pay for his round-trip ticket.

He expects to return in early November with even more information about a host of environmental issues. He’ll share that information with other teachers in the district.

This year Ryan Finley and his wife are sharing more than an interest in environmental issues. Both are working on their national board certifications. Since they’ll be certified in different areas, they’re not really working together, but each will be able to appreciate the other’s stress, he promised.

Finley is happy with his career and doesn’t plan to make any changes.

“ I want to keep the environment / economy / stewardship program going, ” he said. “ It makes an impact in their lives. That’s the fun part. ”

When he’s not at school he likes to bicycle, cook, garden and spend time with his wife.

Reporter Lynn Atkins can be contacted by e-mail at lynna @ nwanews. com.