WORCESTER — Tuesday, December 30, 2025 — Worcester East Middle School science teacher Colleen Cutting was named a 2025 Conservation Teacher of the Year by Massachusetts Audubon.
The Massachusetts Audubon Conservation Teacher of the Year is presented during the organization's annual celebration in October. Each of the four award recipients receives $1,000 to support ongoing classroom and field-based learning.
"I wasn't expecting it at all, but to know that efforts for our kids are being seen on a bigger scale, that felt really good," Cutting said.
The recognition comes following Cutting's work to revamp the district's seventh-grade field trip to Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, where students analyze sections of the brook to study ecological impacts and understand how environmental changes affect the communities around them.
"In the past it was a field trip kids didn't really love as much, and then I got to see it in action with the new curriculum. The kids really liked it, so it was cool to see my work translate and for them to get more hands-on experiences," Cutting said.
"In the classroom, we are always trying to get them to be better problem-solvers and better critical thinkers, and that all starts with being curious. So being able to give them the experience and to ask questions about things they are interested in just leads to better learning and them being engaged overall," Cutting said.
Cutting also supported the relaunch of an after-school program connecting 80 students with local outdoor spaces in Worcester, providing experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom.
"Not all of the kids get to go outside all of the time, so giving them more opportunities to be in nature, in the woods, and by a stream gives them more appreciation for what's outside. They get to see that there are animals that live here and that there is an ecosystem," Cutting said.
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of its 160,000 members and supporters, Mass Audubon protects wildlife, conserves and restores resilient land, advocates for impactful environmental policies, offers nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provides endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at its wildlife sanctuaries.