“Joanna Thompson-Anselm’s expedition in Alaska..” Joanna Thompson-Anselm photo, June, 2024, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/yorkregion.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/f1/1f19c8fb-fc41-5c46-a735-f26230205f98/675b0173e37f3.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C900

By: Steve Lin

Joanna Thompson-Anselm, a geography teacher from Milliken Mills High School, took her teaching to a new level by undertaking a week-long adventure to Alaska during the summer.

Beginning in Sitka and ending in Juneau, her journey was nothing short of breathtaking. Having experienced Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, and Alaska’s Coast, it’s safe to say that Joanna learned a lot amidst this immersive and hands-on experience.

“I chose Alaska because it’s a place I might never reach on my own,” Joanna says. “This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to taste, touch, see, hear and smell the glacial landscape.”

In the classroom, Joanna uses these newfound insights to teach students. Despite her expansive journey, she mentions how the act of exploration doesn’t require the distance. Students can discover geography wherever they are.

“Let students explore their interests through problem-based and ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ learning,” Joanna says.

The jaw-dropping beauty of the glaciers also led her to a newfound appreciation for mother nature, instilling the ever growing urgency of mitigating climate change.

“Seeing the glaciers up close brought the concept of global warming to life in ways I could never imagine,” she says.

From wandering the coastline to exploring the lush green forests, Joanna grasped how nature is interconnected with each organism, no matter how minute, contributing to the bigger picture. However, humanity still fails to realize the significance of the role they have in caring for the planet.

“You see evidence of things alive now, recently alive, and even long gone,” she explains.

Joanna was recently awarded the National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship for 2024 and the Gilles Gagnier Medal. These highly-regarded honors served as a testament to her innovative teaching approach and effort in developing global citizenship among her students.

Joanna says that her decision to embark on such an extensive journey wasn’t for herself, but rather to enhance her student’s perception of the dynamic world around them. 

Work Cited

Liu, Scarlett. “‘Bringing the world back to classroom’: Markham geography teacher awarded fellowship for global expeditions.” York Region, 13 December 2024, https://www.yorkregion.com/news/bringing-the-world-back-to-classroom-markham-geography-teacher-awarded-fellowship-for-global-expeditions/article_feb12aed-0a1a-584a-aa25-06775a05c530.html. Accessed 15 December 2024.