Citizen of the Week: Casey Mitchell ‘is really passionate about teaching her students’

Published 11:00 am Thursday, August 1, 2024

Casey Mitchell, a science teacher at New Hope Middle School, is passionate about the environment and that passion positively impacts her students, said Amy Hartline, recycling and education program coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority and executive director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful.

“I am always impressed when I get a chance to talk to Casey,” Hartline said. “She is really passionate about teaching her students and helping them to become better citizens. She thinks outside the box to create amazing projects for her students to take part in. In the past she’s helped her students participate in the America Recycles Day Billboard contest with us that helps us promote recycling in our area.”

Hartline said Mitchell is always looking for organizations to work with to help her students do projects, helping them learn about conserving energy and learning how the electric grid works.

“Last year she did an amazing new project combining improving literacy and understanding the problem of litter,” Hartline said. “It is always so neat to hear what Casey has done to grow as a teacher so that she can better serve her students.”

Last year, Mitchell and fellow New Hope Middle School teacher Cami Baldivid worked in the swamp and marsh of Sapelo Island helping University of Georgia Marine Institute scientists with their long-term research projects. She has also attended the Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop.

“When we were looking for teachers to help with our Rooting for the Ridge education project, Casey was one of the first to enthusiastically step up,” Hartline said. “We are lucky to have teachers like Casey here in our local schools.”

For her many efforts to help young people learn more about the environment, the Dalton Daily Citizen names Casey Mitchell Citizen of the Week.