Public Information and Community Outreach

Teachers' Environmental Education Institute (TEEI)

Institute Coordinator:
Latecia Abraham, MHA
Program Coordinator
Medical University of South Carolina

Introduction
The Environmental Biosciences Program hosts an annual two-week summer Teachers' Environmental Education Institute for middle and high school teachers. The Institute employs an interdisciplinary approach to explore a range of topics illustrating the interconnectedness of environmental issues. The Institute provides teacher-participants with a framework for investigating, understanding and teaching environmental topics in the classroom.

Beginning in 1999, teacher recruitment efforts have focused on South Carolina and Georgia. Because of a history of community-level environmental concern, recruiting teachers from the Savannah River Region of both states has been a priority.

Upon completion of coursework, teacher-participants receive graduate-level academic credit, appropriate for fulfillment of ongoing recertification requirements.

During its first two years (1998 and 1999) the Institute received funding and partnership support from the Region IV offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and South Carolina State University (SCSU) in Orangeburg, SC. In 2000, primary partners are the U.S. Department of Energy, South Carolina State University (SCSU), and Savannah State University.