Kelly W. Rahn, a sixth grade science teacher at Effingham County Middle School, has been selected by Georgia-Pacific to attend the Keystone Center 2011 Key Issues Institute: Bringing Environmental Issues to the Classroom, to be held this summer in Keystone, Colo. Rahn will join teachers from seven other communities where Georgia-Pacific has facilities.

“We certainly appreciate Georgia-Pacific’s support of our school system and teachers,” stated School Superintendent Randy Shearouse. “Mrs. Rahn is a highly respected middle school science teacher that will not only learn a lot from this opportunity but will be willing to share this important information with other teachers.”

Bringing Environmental Issues to the Classroom is a national training workshop that provides middle-level educators with the process, skills and confidence to investigate current environmental issues in a non-biased manner with their students. Past session participants have addressed diverse environmental topics such as solid waste management, water quality and issues related to climate change.

Within the context of a scientific investigation, teachers spend the week in traditional classroom lessons and participate in field activities designed to further explore environmental issues. To augment the implementation of the new methods and techniques learned while at the Institute, participants receive a curriculum, instructional materials and lab kits. The Institute also coordinates on-line support from other educators and instructors.

“Providing teachers with access to valuable education enrichment resources and opportunities is important to our company and to our mill as a member of the Effingham County community,” said Kelly Wolff, vice president of manufacturing at Georgia-Pacific’s Savannah River mill.  “Connecting educators with resources like the Keystone Center gives them the opportunity to continue to bring their students the outstanding level of classroom excellence associated with Effingham schools.  We’re proud to be part of that effort.”

Rahn was recognized May 23 as a Keystone Institute scholarship recipient by Wolff and Effingham County Middle School Principal Rob Porterfield during sixth period.

The Keystone Center seeks to solve society’s most challenging environmental, energy and public health problems. The Center brings together today’s public, private and civic sector leaders to confront these issues and provides the next generation with the intellectual and social skills required to effectively approach the questions they will face.