Staci Williams, a fourth grade teacher at Myrtle Beach Intermediate School, has received the State Superintendent’s Service Learning Award. Williams and her students were chosen for the award based upon their work to promote environmental awareness regarding the dangers to sea turtle populations in our area.

Staci Williams, a fourth grade teacher at Myrtle Beach Intermediate School, has received the State Superintendent’s Service Learning Award. Williams and her students were chosen for the award based upon their work to promote environmental awareness regarding the dangers to sea turtle populations in our area. After doing research, students decided that the best way they could help would be through educating the public in ways to protect this species. Their goal was to raise funds so that they could place public service announcements along beach accesses and in hotels along the Grand Strand, paying particular attention to nesting areas. To raise money the students created I, Caretta, a book detailing the life cycle of a loggerhead sea turtle. The book is written entirely in haiku and contains turtle protection facts on each page. Students enlisted the help of Kim Clayton, a local artist, to help the class with the illustrations. The students successfully raised $6,000 to publish hardcover editions of the book and donated the proceeds from book sales to the Myrtle Beach Surfrider Foundation, which will use the funds to educate the public about protecting sea turtles and nesting sites. Williams will be recognized by State Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum and the State Board of Education on September 14 in Columbia.