Dianna is the WSU Extension Coordinator for 4-H Youth Development in Thurston County as well as the State Coordinator for Washington 4-H International Exchange. As WSU 4-H staff she practices and teaches experiential learning, positive youth development, and youth-adult mentoring. Dianna has been an environmental educator and naturalist for several decades, and has degrees in Human Development and Outdoor Education.

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Mindy Roberts is an environmental engineer with the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Environmental Assessment Program. She manages several large studies that analyze human impacts on Puget Sound as well as the region’s lakes and rivers. She has a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Civil and Oceanographic Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington. She has over 20 years of experience working on complex scientific studies. Mindy is a registered professional engineer in the State of Washington and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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Jean serves as a senior scholar at the Evergreen State College’s Washington Center and directs the Center’s “Curriculum for the Bioregion” Initiative. From 2000-2004, she co-directed (with Barbara Leigh Smith) the National Learning Communities Project, a Pew Charitable Trusts-funded initiative aimed at strengthening learning community programs and communities of practice nation-wide. In 1985, she was one of the founding directors (with Smith) of the Washington Center. In that capacity, she supported campuses in Washington and throughout the nation in launching curricular learning community initiatives and was centrally involved in the Center’s other projects, focusing on cultural pluralism and academic success for students of color, and mathematics and science reform.

She taught in the fields of biology and environmental studies, both solo and in interdisciplinary teams at Warren Wilson College in western North Carolina and at The Evergreen State College, and currently teaches Environmental Education in Evergreen’s Masters of Environmental Studies Program. She has been involved in several collaborative writing efforts: Learning Communities: Reforming Undergraduate Education (Jossey-Bass, 2004), Student Self-Evaluation: Fostering Reflective Learning (Jossey-Bass, 1993), and Strategies for Energizing Large Classes: From Small Groups to Learning Communities (Jossey-Bass, 2000). In 1998, Change magazine acknowledged the importance of the work with the learning community approach when it named me one of eleven “Agenda-Setters” among Change magazine’s eighty “past, present and future leaders of higher education.”

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Lara Tukarski is an environmental science teacher at NOVA Middle School. She has worked in the environmental education field for over 18 years. Prior to settling in western Washington, Lara served as the founding director of sustainability programs at schools where she taught on the east coast. She also designed environmental literacy curriculum for the Maryland State Department of Natural Resources and served as a Program Facilitator for Department of State Youth Leadership programming in Nepal focused on environmental health and sustainable community design.

In addition to her teaching role at NOVA, Lara is currently the sustainability coordinator and manages the school community garden. She also serves as an environmental consultant and curriculum architect for Journeys in Film, a non-profit which develops interdisciplinary curriculum for award-winning films which address the advancement of global environmental education.

Lara holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Molecular Ecology. When not teaching, you might find Lara hiking, kayaking, in her garden, fossil hunting, on a volcano, swimming in mountain lakes, in her art studio, skiing, or hangin’ on the porch with good friends and her sweet dog Juniper Bearpaw.

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Ellen Short-Sanchez works for The Evergreen State College and serves as the Director of the Center for Community Based Learning and Action.

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Meridith Greer is the Water Resources Educator for the City of Tumwater. Meridith graduated from Willamette University in 2018 with a B.A. in Environmental Science and a minor in Politics. She worked for four years for the City of Salem as part of their stormwater program before joining the City of Tumwater. Meridith works to educate members of the public on stormwater/surface water, drinking water, groundwater, and wastewater, as well as works closely with regional partners as part of the Stream Team program.

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Stephanie Bishop has been the South Sound GREEN Coordinator since 2012. This watershed education program is geared toward students, grades 4 – college, reaches over 1200 students and 35 teachers annually in the North Thurston, Olympia, Tumwater, Rainier and Griffin School Districts, St. Martin’s College, The Evergreen State College, private schools and home-schooled students.

She previously worked as an Education & Outreach Coordinator for the Mason Consrvation District, where she had the pleasure of coordinating the Student Watershed Investigation and Monitoring (SWIM) program, based on the South Sound GREEN model.

Stephanie earned a BA in natural resources from The Evergreen State College.  She is active within the community, serving as a volunteer with several planting restoration and education groups

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Works as an Education and Outreach Specialist for Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Environmental Health Division. She offers presentations to school and community groups on toxics reduction, healthy homes, and more.

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Erin Scheel manages Intercity Transit’s Smart Moves Program. Contact her if you are interested in curriculum, presentations, programs, or events for your school or organization.

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While this is my first year at Nisqually Middle School, I have been teaching either students or teachers for the past 18 years.  Prior to joining Nisqually Middle School, I worked for Pacific Education Institute. I earned my undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University and have a master’s in Technology in Education from Lesley University.  My past work experiences have given me the opportunity to travel the state and work with teachers and curriculum writers in the fields of Environmental Studies and STEM.  This year, I look forward to combining Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as my students work together to solve real-world problems!

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Stephanie is the Ecosystem and Salmon Recovery Coordinator at the Puget Sound Partnership.

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Sylvana Niehuser is a Supervisor with the City of Olympia. She oversees a variety of programs and activities within the City’s Park Stewardship Program including:

• Volunteer in Parks Program
• Park Ranger Program
• Junior Ranger Adventures
• Meet Us At the Beach
• Kids Canopy Climb
• Backyard Campout

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Rachel Friedman works for Sustainable South Sound and Motion in Balance Studio.

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As an environmental educator since 1986, Erica has led WSU Thurston County Extension’s water resources efforts since 1997, providing classes for over 2,000 landowners and professionals annually. She has designed and installed numerous Green Stormwater projects and produced several publications and videos to support Green Stormwater/LID efforts by a variety of audiences. Her masters is in ecological restoration with a focus on the Salish Sea nearshore.

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Cori Carlton is a Program Coordinator with WSU Thurston County Extension. She manages the Master Gardener program and the Master Composter Recycler program.

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Carrie Ziegler – Artist, Environmental Educator, and Community Engagement Specialist.

Art is an incredible tool for change. It penetrates deeply inside of the viewer, encouraging them to ask questions they may otherwise avoid. My artwork strives to bring issues of Environmental and Social Justice and personal development to the front of the viewer’s experience. Whether I am working on a large-scale participatory art installation, a public mural, or am in my studio creating with various materials, my work revolves around these subjects. To affect positive change through art is my quest.

In my work, the subject matter drives the medium. When working on a project about plastics in the ocean, up-cycled plastic is the obvious choice. When working to beautify a bike trail in an industrial zone, paint transforms a graffiti-filled wall into something magical. What links my work is the inclusion of many people in the creation and the goal of engaging viewers and inspiring them to make a positive change in their own lives.

My recent projects have included hundreds of people in their creation, allowing for a project that is much larger and wider of scope than any I could do alone. These projects give ownership to all involved, and inspire the viewer through the story of their creation. There are countless layers woven into the pieces, compelling the viewer to delve deeper, if they so choose.

For example, when people view the suspended installation, Rise Above Plastics: The Butterfly Effect, they are first mesmerized by hundreds of butterflies gently spinning and reflecting the light. When they notice that together, the butterflies form a human figure, emerging from a chrysalis, with butterflies of change flying from her heart, they are overcome with awe. When they hear the story of how the piece was made of up-cycled plastic trash, by 700 children and young adults, as a message of hope and inspiration, of personal choice and empowerment, they are mobilized to ask questions and look at their own actions and how they are personally affecting the world.

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Lydia works for the WA State Department of Ecology in the Water Quality program.

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I serve as the Science Instructional Specialist with North Thurston Public Schools. I have 26 years of experience in North Thurston Public Schools as a middle school science teacher at Nisqually, Chinook and Komachin Middle Schools. I have served as the districts secondary science instructional specialist since 2008. I love the opportunity to support and work with teachers of all levels on engaging their students in inquiry and field-based based science. I graduated from Whitworth College with a Bachelors in Biology and Psychology and have a Masters Degree from St. Martins University in Curriculum and Instruction. I am National Board Certified in Early Adolescent Science.

My responsibilities include coaching and mentoring science teachers, professional development, science curriculum development and alignment to the Washington State K-12 Science Standards, and our district transition into the Next Generation Science Standards.

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Works as an Education and Outreach Specialist for Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Environmental Health Division. She offers presentations and trainings to schools, community groups, and businesses on toxics reduction, healthy homes, septic systems, natural yard care, and more.

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In her role as an Education and Outreach Program Assistant with the Child,  Family and  Community Wellness Division, Cynthia works with a collaborative group of educators whose mission is to help everyone reach their maximum health potential.  She works on public health initiatives like hazardous waste reduction and opioid abuse prevention.  Cynthia also serves as the volunteer and intern coordinator for the Department.

Cynthia is a graduate of the M. ed in Environmental Education program at W.W.U’s Huxley College of the Environment and holds a Certificate of Leadership and Nonprofit Administration from the North Cascades Institute. She graduated from the Evergreen State College with a BA in Liberal Arts. Previously, she’s worked with the Thurston County Stream Team Program, as a Water Quality Specialist, as a Restoration Diver, as a Biological Science Technician (botany), as an Herbalist, and as a Paraeducator with the Olympia School District. 

This member offers….

• Beyond Mr. Yuk: Protecting Kids from Toxics (program for Early Childhood Educators)
• Internship and volunteer opportunities at Thurston County Public Health and Social Service Department.
• Healthy Homes Assistance
• Hazardous materials reduction education

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Kerri started coordinating the Intercity Transit Walk N Roll program in 2018. The program promotes active transportation to youth; this includes walking, biking, and taking public transit. Kerri has master degrees in environmental education from Slippery Rock University and public administration from The Evergreen State College. She has worked in education and outreach since 2006. Kerri strives to be a good environmental steward and is passionate about teaching others to do the same.

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Terri serves as the Supervisor of Curriculum (K-12 Math/Science & Highly Capable Program).

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Aimee Christy is a research biologist at Pacific Shellfish Institute.  She holds a B.S. from the University of Washington and an M.S. from The Evergreen State College.  Her current research projects include nutrient bioextraction using blue mussels, harmful algal blooms, marine debris and microplastics, citizen monitoring, and water quality outreach for K-12 students and the community. Special interests include designing school programs that target Next Generation science standards and exploring alternative disposal practices for dog waste in urbanized environments.

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Tom Crawford is an educator, information systems designer and project manager who was also one of the founding members of Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT) in 2008. He received his Masters of Education degree from Eastern Washington University, and his Bachelor of Arts from Gonzaga University. Currently retired, Tom’s career included curriculum design, training and technical assistance for Indian education projects in public schools throughout the Pacific Northwest, and consulting and training for information systems projects within state and local government and business organizations. He also worked with Puget Sound businesses to build awareness of the Natural Step approach to sustainability, and is trained in the Dialogue Education approach to adult learning. As a TCAT board member, Tom helped establish an innovative energy efficiency program, called Thurston Energy, in partnership with Thurston Economic Development Council. He also led the development of Thurston County’s first comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory, and worked with faculty from local higher education institutions to complete a survey of county residents on attitudes toward climate change and clean energy.

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