Ashley McGovern steps up from her original position as Jenni & Kyle Foundation WoW(Wildlife on Wheels) Education Intern to full-time education staffer for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. She will continue on a permanent basis as Assistant Urban Education Leader to Urban Education Leader Melissa Maher teaching Title-1 students on WoW visits in the Tice community and greater area of Lehigh Acres within the Lee County School District.
“Ashley has become an invaluable part of the education team since she joined us for the 2023-2024 school year,” said Maher. “She excels at planning curriculum to meet STEM and Sunshine State standards and, hands-on, introducing kids from elementary through middle school grades to nature and science concepts. She has helped create countless conservation stewards of the future.”
A native of Johnston, Iowa, and a graduate from Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., McGovern majored in marine biology with minors in environmental science and criminal justice. She worked previously one-on-one with Wallace Elementary School students in Iowa as a substitute associate for students with disabilities or in need of special accommodations.
“I am thrilled to be able to continue working with students here and getting them excited about science,” McGovern said. “It’s such a joy to see that spark in children’s eyes when they get to experience the wonder of nature for often the first time.”
DDWS fully funds McGovern’s and Maher’s positions while supporting the maintenance and operation of WoW, a mobile outreach classroom that first hit the road in December 2020.
“The response to WoW has been tremendously gratifying,” said DOTW executive director Ann-Marie Wildman. “It visits about 9,000 students from 10 schools in a school year, plus summer camps and special functions. We are thrilled to have Ashley on board, so ably helping carry the heavy workload, along with interns, volunteers, and refuge staff.”
For information about supporting WoW’s outreach mission, contact Wildman at [email protected].
ABOUT DDWS
As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, DDWS works to support J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations and Refuge Nature Shop profits. To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit dingdarlingsociety.org or contact Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-789-8991 or [email protected].
