By: Novita

Becoming a teacher was Mrs. Marsini's dream when she was still a teenager. To achieve her goal, she went to teacher education school (SPG) in Yogyakarta. In the 1990s, her dream of becoming a teacher was realized, after passing the civil servant teacher test in Palangkaraya. She received a decree for teacher placement in Mekartani village, Mendawai sub-district, Katingan district. His desire to become a teacher became a reality, even though he had to migrate and be away from his family.

When he arrived in Mekartani village, he was very surprised. The question arose in him, "Why was I placed in an area like this. The school is located in a remote place, far from the city, in the middle of the forest and everywhere using a boat". She cried. Because this is the duty and responsibility that has been mandated, then he survives and adjusts.

The school where he taught at that time was still arid, there were no flowers, only shrubs and reeds. The learning materials he provided adjusted the textbooks that existed at that time. The teaching method was more dominant lecture.

After knowing WWF-Indonesia through trainings and workshops, he just tried the methods obtained from the training. Nature, environment and society became the source of learning. The teaching system is no longer like before, which is only text book. Now he more often provides learning methods with community interviews, discussions, visits to sources such as farmers, craftsmen, stalls and community gardens, which are in Mekartani Village.

In addition to adding teaching methods, together with the teachers, he invited the committee and the community to jointly improve the school. Improvements start from school management, teaching and learning, student involvement, community involvement, improving school facilities and infrastructure to monitoring activities carried out with the committee and the community.

This improvement was welcomed positively by the committee and the community. In rotation every Friday, parents come to manage the school garden. Another form of cooperation is to utilize reeds and weeds that grow well to become animal feed, in the form of fermented feed and goat breeding. It is hoped that this activity can become a learning medium for school students and the community.

All the experience and learning he has gained cannot be separated from the role of his former principal, Mr. Mulyono. In 2011, the school was awarded the Adiwiyata National Level. There is pride in getting this nomination, several schools outside this sub-district know SDN Mekartani school. now Mrs. Marsini, feels responsible for maintaining and even developing the achievements and cooperation that have been there.

Offers to share experiences also came in. Starting from sharing experiences of developing schools in the sub-district in the KKG and KKS forums, at the national level such as the national teacher conference in Jakarta and at the international level such as the Environmental Teacher's International Convention 2012.

Experience sharing is also done in his own school. The frequent turnover of teachers in this school makes him feel that the guidance is endless. His message on this teacher's day, do not be satisfied with what is there. If possible, continue to develop yourself and improve the existing teaching system for students.