Sparta educator is honored

Evelyn "Susie" Miller of Sparta Elementary School was selected as North Carolina's 2001 Zeneca/NACD Conservation Education "Teacher of The Year" during judging Thursday in Raleigh.

Miller was nominated in February by the Alleghany Soil and Water Conservation District because of her many activities in environmental education. The purpose of the teacher of the year contest is to recognize the outstanding conservation education efforts of our nation's teachers.

Some of the accomplishments listed in the nomination for this award included the creation of an outdoor classroom which serves as a bird and butterfly habitat natural area for wildlife.