CLARKSVILLE, TN − Last week, the Cumberland River Compact hosted a two-day Teacher Retreat in Cookeville focused on water quality, environmental education, and water careers for the next generation. 16 3rd-12th grade teachers from 10 counties, including three Montgomery County teachers, convened at Tennessee Tech’s Oakley STEM Center to deepen their understanding of local water resources, explore human impacts on water quality, and discover how to bring these critical lessons back to their classrooms.
The retreat is part of the Cumberland River Compact’s larger mission to improve water quality in the Cumberland River basin through education and engagement. In addition to gaining new skills at the retreat, teachers who attended can also apply for the 2025–2026 Compact Teacher Fellowship, a year-round program that provides funding and guidance for implementing water projects, field trips, and other student-led activities in the classroom.
“The retreat gave teachers a chance to explore the natural and human-made water cycles through immersive experiences like hiking, kayaking, and touring a wastewater treatment plant,” says Catherine Price, Education and Engagement Director at the Cumberland River Compact. “The educators we work with go on to have a powerful impact in their schools and communities. Plus, through the Compact-led fellowship program, they can stay connected throughout the rest of the school year and build supportive relationships with each other.”…