Sarah Hersee

I grew up in a small town in Western New York called Fillmore. As a kid, I loved to chase waterfalls with my family and friends, read books late into the night, and experiment with new recipes in the kitchen. My freshman year of high school, my guidance counselor asked me if I would be interested in helping out in Mrs. Walters' first grade classroom during my study hall. I quickly fell in love with watching students grow, laugh, learn, and play. I continued volunteering in classrooms until I graduated high school. It was clear by that point in time that teaching was the path for me. I went to college at SUNY Geneseo in Western New York where I received my Bachelor's in Childhood Education.

During college I worked summer jobs in Yellowstone, Olympic, and Grand Canyon National Parks. Once I graduated, I decided I wanted to continue the adventure and learning before finding the right place to start my classroom teaching career. For four years I worked as an environmental educator across the country. Some of my favorite experiences from this time included leading backcountry canoeing trips in the North Cascades National Park, teaching snow science on Tahoma (Mount Rainier), and leading conservation projects in the Kootenai National Forest. During my free time, I enjoy the hobbies I picked up living and working in America's parks and forests including backpacking, rock climbing, and canoeing. Most weekends you can still find me chasing waterfalls, reading books, and eating tasty food!

In August 2023 I decided I was ready to be closer to family and to find a new place to call home. I started my journey at Brevard Academy as the Outdoor Education Teacher through Mountain Roots. This year, I will be officially joining the Brevard Academy team as a third grade teacher. I hope to bring my enthusiasm and love for the outdoors into my classroom for many years to come. I have a feeling teaching will be my greatest adventure yet!