POTTSVILLE — The Scouting America Hawk Mountain Council on Thursday named a Pottsville middle school language arts teacher Educator of the Year.

Leah Zerbe accepted the 2025 Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator award at a ceremony at D.H.H. Lengel Middle School.

“Leah Zerbe is a great 21st Century educator,” former Republican Herald managing editor Andy Heintzelman said in his introduction. “In addition to her classroom work, she leads after-school programs throughout Schuylkill County that focus on environmental literacy, sustainability and outdoor learning.”

Zerbe led an effort to obtain a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Farm-To-School grant that supports a native pollinator habitat grant on the school grounds, Heintzelman said. Under her guidance, students participate in trips to farms, food tastings and cooking classes that focus on healthy locally grown food.

In accepting the award, presented by Black Rock District Executive David McKeown, Zerbe said she was humbled to receive such an important honor.

Her goal in teaching, Zerbe said, is to create change makers of her students.

“It has been such a rewarding experience for me to see that kids are interested and want to do things,” she said. “We just have to build the programs that allow them to do it.”

Zerbe credited Pottsville Superintendent Sarah E. Yoder and other administrators for being receptive to out-of-the-box programs.

“Leah is extremely dedicated,” Yoder said. “The programs she designs will affect her students for a lifetime.”

In the pollinator garden, students planted milkweed, which plays an integral role in the survival of Monarch butterflies. An after-school program, it was funded in part by a federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant that underwrites before and after-school programs.

In two years at D.H.H. Lengel, Zerbe has secured an Outdoor Riding For Focus grant that funded a fleet of specialized mountain bikes for student exercise programs.

An environmental journalist, her weekly column appears in the Schuylkill Living section of the Republican Herald Sunday edition. Her writing has been published in Rodale Press’ Prevention and Organic Gardening and other magazines.

Zerbe is the recipient of a Women of Conservation Award and the Schuylkill Conservation District’s Media Conservation Award.

State Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp; the Schuylkill County commissioners and a representative of State Sen. David G. Argall presented commendations.

“You do make a difference,” said Twardzik, a member of the House Environmental Committee. “Thanks for what you do.”

County Commissioner Gary J. Hess commended Zerbe for her work with students.

“Young people are our greatest asset,” he said. “You are molding them into citizens of the future.”

Commissioner Barron L. “Boots” Hetherington commended Zerbe and her students on their work with pollinators and farm-to-table initiatives.

“Pollinators are dear to my heart,” said Hetherington, who grows strawberries and raspberries on his Union Twp. farm.

Seth Hubler, Argall’s outreach director and an Eagle scout, recalled visiting the farm-to-table lunch program last fall.

“You just don’t see this kind of commitment from a teacher outside the classroom,” said Hubler. “I really appreciate what you do.”

Named for Dr. Elbert K. Fretwell, a Columbia University professor and youth development pioneer, the award celebrates educators who build the next generation through integrity, responsibility and community service.

Hudson Clews, a member of Troop 615 in Pottsville, talked about the advantages of Scouting.

Now a freshman at Pottsville High School, he has been in Scouting for 10 years. During summer camp at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, he earned a merit badge in life-saving skills.

“Through troop activities, volunteering in our community and building friendships,” he said, “I am proud of my accomplishments in Scouting.”

Jamie Gunoskey, Troop 615 Scoutmaster, called attention to Zerbe’s teaching methods.

“It was your passion and drive that inspired them to research current scientific evidence on the impact of pollinators on the environment,” he said. “As fine of an award as this is, there can be no doubt that this is just a small symbol of the far-reaching impact of your efforts.”

Gunoskey stressed the need for adult volunteers in Troop 615, which is chartered by St. Patrick Catholic Church, Pottsville.

For more information about volunteering, call Dave McKeown, District Executive for Black Rock District, at 570-789-9538.