Yvette Cano: Director of Education at Everglades National Park

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What is your name and job title?
Director of Education at Everglades National Park in Florida

What education and/or experience prepared you for this position?
Before coming to Everglades National Park I was a teacher for nearly 13 years in the Miami-Dade County public schools. I left the school system and worked for several years teaching other educators. My background in education with my teaching experience of both teachers and children helped me to have a more well-rounded perspective and greater appreciation for the value of teaching/learning outdoors.

How did you become involved with the National Park Service (NPS)?
I became involved with the NPS, specifically Everglades as a teacher. I brought my students to participate in the very programs I came to as a 6th grader and now supervise. I also assisted the park regularly with curriculum development for programs. After leaving the classroom I then applied for the position of Education Specialist at Everglades National Park. I have been the Director of Education officially for almost a year.

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What does your job involve?
In my position I am fortunate to supervise the programs that bring children to the park for a hands-on curriculum based learning experience. Although most of my time is spent in the management of the program, one of my favorite things is when I am able to join the students in the field and share my passion for education and our national park. I also have the opportunity to connect with our neighboring communities and help them to better understand and get excited about Everglades and their role in the "ecosystem".

What is the most rewarding part of your job to you?
The most rewarding part of my job is when I am able to facilitate a learning experience for all ages. In other words, the moment that the fear has subsided, a connection is made and the sense of wonder is deepened!

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What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a similar path?
The combination of teaching children and teachers allowed me to have a more well rounded experience of the needs and wants across the board. Additionally, my affinity for nature, pushed me to learn about the natural world to then teach the students in my classes. All in all, I would say that understanding and appreciating the world of teaching and learning are instrumental to your success.

How has your cultural heritage or background influenced your or tied into your work?
Although we spent lots of time playing outdoors, as a 1st generation Cuban-American I did not grow up with national parks as a destination. It was not until my adult life, at 18, that I started to visit the Everglades and began to find a deeper appreciation for our natural world in the sunsets and sunrises. Fast forward, many years later, I became an employee of my backyard national Park and was surprised to find that I was one of a few Hispanics.

Growing up in South Florida, it is pretty common to be surrounded by a very diverse workforce, however this was something that National Park Service was just starting to explore. Luckily, at Everglades we are nestled right next to an incredibly diverse community, so I made it my mission to hire and recruit locally whenever possible. In this journey, I made connections with local colleges and universities to recruit interns from our community, some of which some have gone on to become NPS employees.