Eighth-grade science teacher Mrs. Louderback recently won the 2025 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Award (KACEE), given by the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education. She received this award for her ongoing commitment, excellent teaching, passion for science, and efforts to improve our surroundings.
It is to be known that Louderback’s enthusiasm towards science is out of this world. Mr. Haire, the head principal at Washburn Rural Middle School, said, “Mrs. Louderback has such a passion for teaching, but also a love for teaching students about science outside the walls of her classroom. She strives to light a fire in the students’ hearts about our environment and the effect we have on our environment.”
Not only is she getting recognition for her work in teaching science, but also for her successes in making the environment a better place. Louderback is the head of the Green Club, with 40 students helping improve our school grounds. Eighth grader Griffin Ingold said, “My favorite thing about Green Club is the fact that we are making the school better.”
Many WAVE students relish her teaching and express that she is an amazing teacher. Eighth-grade WAVE student, Bridget Hoopes, said, “She is very kind, she makes her activities fun, and I enjoy her class.” Louderback’s teaching expertise comes from when she took a class through the Kansas Association of Conservation and Environmental Education called Teaching and Learning Outdoors. She said, “This class empowered me with the benefits and strategies to take students outside for learning.”
Louderback will start a new position at Washburn Rural Middle School next year as an Environmental-STEM Program Facilitator.
