Daphné Panié

As Earth Day is approaching, one teacher has all the spotlights on her: Ms. Linderoth. In addition to teaching AP Environmental Science and Marine Ecology and acting as the Director of Sustainability, she holds many roles and is constantly planning events and programming for all grades, from Kindergarten to 12th Grade, to celebrate the Earth and the environment. Whether she is supervising the Student Action Summit Planning Committee, guiding students competing in the Greenlight 2030 Bedford Awards, advising the numerous environment-related clubs, or organizing different events on campus, Ms. Linderoth brings an unmistakable energy and passion to everything she does. 

Her love for the environment started early. She explains she always “loved nature and being outside as a kid.” She was especially drawn to classes where students had the chance to study outdoors; she recalls always having loved “the hands-on stuff.” That love carried into college where she majored in environmental studies and anthropology. 

After graduating, she started working at the Bruce Museum Seaside Center, where she would lead informal education programs. She spent most of her time there focused on marine education, teaching students about the Long Island Sound; working at the touch tank, which allowed people to touch fishes and other marine creatures; teaching science classes and leading squid dissections; and organizing nature walks. She then started working at the Maritime Aquarium Education Center, where she acted as their travelling educator. She recalls travelling to many schools, where she would lead educational sessions surrounding the environment and pollution. While this work was directly linked to her passion for the ocean, she explains wanting something stronger and “something with more long-lasting relationships.” She wanted “to get to know the students, more than just teaching them a couple of hours and never seeing them again.” This led her to work at the Chestnut Academy for two years, before moving to RCDS, where she has taught since the fall of 2012. 

When asked about her favorite class, Ms. Linderoth answered, “Marine Ecology – it’s what I love and have always been doing.” She also added that she enjoyed the “flexibility” of the class, which allows her to focus on teaching concepts she is passionate about, especially when compared to the strict curriculum required for AP Environmental Science. 

Her love for nature is present in her everyday life. She spends most of her free time outdoors, where she gardens, hikes, and goes to the beach or to the Long Island Sound, where she spends a lot of time on her boat. She also loves spending time with her son, who is four years old and enjoys  travelling whenever she can. 

For students thinking about majoring in college or pursuing a career in environmental sciences, Ms Linderoth’s advice is to “get involved and spend time outside observing nature.” She encourages students “to try something new. It might be something you really love and want to pursue in your life.” As for Earth Month, she wants students to achieve a small goal by “choosing one small thing, whether it is in your personal life, or at a more global level such as attending cleanups or volunteering at events.”