In the hills of the Ozark Mountains, a dedicated high school teacher has spent years inspiring young minds within the confines of a classroom. However, a deep-seated passion for the outdoors and conservation brings her to the local campgrounds as a park ranger during the summer months.
Amy Branscum is a high school teacher, park ranger, biologist, mother, and so much more to the communities she lives and serves in.
Flip through her yearbooks, and you’ll see that she’s volunteered hundreds of hours preparing students for homecomings, pep rallies, proms, dances, and various events that leave lasting impressions on our youth.
Her impact as an educator for the last 28 years is evident by the number of hugs she’s received from past and present students over the last six years as a summer ranger patrolling campgrounds at Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes.
“I’ll be walking through a campground on a hot day and hear, ‘Ms. Branscum, is that you?’” said Park Ranger Amy Branscum. “This is almost always followed by a welcomed, sweaty hug.”
During her tenure, she’s taught physical and environmental science, chemistry, biology, and astronomy.
She jokingly said, “The only thing I didn’t do was teach French, because I can’t.”
Many of the students she’s impacted have gone on to become doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists, teachers, environmental scientists, biologists, and more.
“Those are just the professions I know about,” said Branscum. “The most rewarding thing about being a teacher is when a student’s light comes on and they start getting excited about what we’re learning.”
The hardest part about teaching for Branscum is when a capable student won’t or refuses to understand.
As each school year comes to an end, she packs up her classroom and starts ironing the uniform of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Park Ranger.
“I got a biology degree because I wanted to be a park ranger,” said Branscum. “I got a teaching degree as a backup. I’m glad I did because I was at school with my kids.”
For Branscum, the best part about being a park ranger is seeing kids having fun at the campgrounds.
“What makes this job fun is you’re outside with people who want to be there, who want to be camping. They are off their phones and outside in a healthy environment,” Branscum said.
Park rangers patrol parks to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable time. She may be the favorite teacher of thousands of students, but she doesn’t compromise when it comes to safety.
“I want all of my students and visitors to be safe and wear life jackets while enjoying the lakes and rivers,” said Branscum. “It’s difficult to run off students that are having too much fun, but I’ll do it if they’re not being safe.”
Ms. Branscum plans to continue her career as a teacher until she’s no longer needed. After that, she’ll trade her walks through high school hallways for hugs during campground patrols.
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