Brandon Groff Named National Educator of the Year

Earns Funding for Multidisciplinary Student Project

Greenhills science teacher Brandon Groff has been named the 2024 National Educator of the Year by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). He was recognized for creating innovative learning opportunities for students, both inside and outside of the classroom, and for his work to involve students in conservation efforts with outside organizations. This award includes $5,000 to develop interpretive signage for the Northfield Woods Preserve and work on the Parker Mill County Park and Forest Nature Area.

“Through my teaching and extracurricular involvement, I have dedicated my career to fostering a deep appreciation for the natural world and empowering the next generation to become active, engaged stewards of our environment,” said Groff in his personal essay submitted to the NWTF, as part of the award process. “By blending hands-on learning, real-world applications, and community engagement, I strive to inspire my students to become active participants in the conservation of our precious ecosystems.”

This fall, Groff learned that he had been nominated for and won the NWTF’s 2024 Michigan Educator of the Year. Noted were his efforts to remove the invasive common reed (Phragmites australis) around Greenhills campus, which engaged Gardening Club students in an ongoing project for the Michigan Conservation Stewards program. As a state winner, Groff became a finalist for the NWTF’s national award, and was asked to share how he would use a $5,000 grant to further engage students. His proposal included a budget for native ecotype plants, tools and supplies to facilitate the planting, and interpretive signage design and installation.

“This project will engage students in hands-on learning, help them develop a deeper understanding of local ecosystems, and contribute to the restoration and conservation of natural habitats,” Groff shared in his grant proposal. “They will also have the opportunity to explore the complex relationships between human activities, such as agriculture, and their impact on native species and the environment. The interpretive signage will further enhance the educational value of the project, providing visitors with a greater appreciation for the local natural history and the importance of reconciling modern land use practices with the preservation of biodiversity.”

The NWTF notified Groff that he was selected as the 2024 Educator of the Year at the end of November, and shared that he would receive the $5,000 grant to fund his proposal. He will be recognized at the NWTF’s 49th Annual Convention, taking place February 12-16, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Work on the project is already underway and expected to take a year to complete. First up is the interpretive signage for the Northfield Woods Preserve, focusing on educating students about the preserve’s pre-agricultural natural ecosystem, the history of agriculture at the location, the process of restoration and reconciliation ecology, and the natural history of the wild turkey and other native species. The design, production, and installation of the signage will follow this initial phase.

Work on the Forest Nature Area is scheduled to begin on April 10, 2025. This will involve the removal of invasive species, followed by the planting of native ecotypes from local native nurseries and seed banks, most notably from the Feral Flora company based in Ann Arbor. The plantings will be done over several weekends as part of the Civic Engagement Program at Greenhills, through its Environmental Justice Pathway Adventure opportunities.

Groff has two decades of experience teaching at the middle school, high school, and college science level, including the past 12 years as a member of Greenhills science faculty, and he is a Certified Michigan Master Naturalist and a Michigan Conservation Steward. He has taught a range of courses at Greenhills, including Natural History of Living Organisms, Ecology and Global Sustainability, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Introductory Biology, 8th Grade Science, and Perspectives in Humanities.

One of the things Groff is most proud of is seeing students who are inspired by his teaching and his love of nature—particularly those who choose to continue studying science in college or as a vocation.

“My commitment to conservation and environmental education has had a profound impact on my students,” said Groff. “Many have gone on to pursue degrees in environmental science, forestry, and natural resources, with some even pursuing advanced degrees. One of my students, earned a third-place award in the 2015 DuPont Challenge Science Essay competition for his work on ‘Hydrogen Cars and Artificial Leaves: Our Clean Energy Future.’”

Groff’s project and the funding by NWTF will be a unique opportunity to engage Greenhills students in a meaningful, long-term community service initiative that aligns with our school’s commitment to environmental stewardship and civic engagement.