EPA honors Virginia's Liam McGranaghn with Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Liam McGranaghn, who teaches at Purceville, Virginia’s Loudoun Valley High School, has won the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) for his hands-on approach to lessons.

“Liam McGranaghan’s dedication to developing a stimulating environmental science curriculum inspires students to get involved in community environmental projects,” EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin said. “Through his hard work and dedication, students leave the classroom with a better understanding of the delicate balance between humans and our environment, and share that knowledge with families and communities.”

McGranaghn is known for bringing animals like raptors and reptiles into the classroom to enliven lessons and inspire his passion for the natural world amongst students. He runs a program centered on owls, wherein students identify habitats for the birds, educate the local community on their nesting needs and study owls in the field to gather details about their nesting.

McGranaghn’s emphasis on birds of prey is no accident, as he is a nationally recognized expert on the topic. He also founded the Loudoun Amphibian Monitoring Program.