Almost a year ago when Arkansas Wildlife staff first met Mary Beth Hatch she was wearing waders and leading a school principal, a teacher and a group of North Little Rock Academy students through the current of Fourche Creek at Little Rock’s Hindman Park. As coordinator of school innovation in the North Little Rock School District, she had partnered with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Education Division to bring outdoors teaching skills to teachers and, in turn, introduce students to nature.
Now, Hatch is on the other side, recently taking over as AGFC chief of education.
“I have been partnering and working with (the AGFC) on projects for years, even when I was in the classroom as a classroom teacher,” Hatch said. “As a teacher we had a stream team and I was working with (AGFC Stream Habitat Coordinator) Sean Saunders to get that going.
“But I have always had a desire to continue working with the Game and Fish through education. Lots of great things have happened there, and then when this position came open, it kind of really just seemed like a combination of all the things I love, all the things I enjoy doing professionally and personally, and kind of a dream job role, if you will. I’m excited to have the opportunity.”
Hatch had a Zoom interview with Spencer Griffith, AGFC deputy director, whose purview includes the Education Division, and then she met in person with Griffith and AGFC Director Austin Booth. Many in the Education Division already knew her well and what she had accomplished in a short time in North Little Rock.
“In selecting Mary Beth we saw a strong leader who is nationally recognized for her program development and has a diverse background in the education field,” Griffith said. “As we look to execute ‘The Natural State Tomorrow,’ Mary Beth’s leadership will continue to guide us as we hone our education efforts into connecting Arkansans to conservation and our natural resources.”
In North Little Rock, Hatch oversaw career and technical education programming, as well as federal funding to support programming throughout the schools, including post-secondary institutions. She developed industry and community partnerships for the district.