It only takes one teacher to inspire change—now imagine the impact of trailblazing teacher leaders when they go beyond the walls of their own classrooms to support fellow educators to implement eco-literacy curricula in schools across the U.S. In the last eight years, the EcoRise Teacher Ambassador program has helped EcoTeachers hone their leadership skills, collaborate with a nationwide network of educators, and effect waves of change in their school communities. We are excited to introduce the next cohort of EcoRise Teacher Ambassadors: 29 inspiring K–12 educators who hail from California beaches to New York City streets and everywhere in between!
We selected outstanding educators from a competitive pool of applicants to represent EcoRise, inspire change, and support other educators in their communities to integrate sustainability and climate education into their classrooms this school year. This diverse group of K–12 teacher leaders hail from 12 different regions across the country from New York City to Sacramento, California to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The Ambassadors support EcoRise’s mission, embody our core values, and are dedicated to activating students as changemakers in their communities.
This cohort of EcoRise Teacher Ambassadors is joining a national support network of passionate and talented educators focused on improving local environmental issues through social change by working with youth, adults, and community partners. They came together as a team at EcoRise’s 6th Annual Summer Institute July 243rd–26th, in Austin, Texas. During the professional development experience, Ambassadors strengthened leadership skills; dug into environmental justice; explored design thinking and systems change strategies; and networked with like-minded educators from across the country. The event was made possible thanks to the Lakeshore Foundation, Love Tito’s, and Southwest Airlines.
One Ambassador reflected “The Summer Institute has been a life-changing experience for me as an educator. The values and vision of EcoRise align with my own personal values and vision. I feel strongly about the work they are doing and want to be a part of this important movement. I feel a sense of urgency to educate our young people to be changemakers in a world that is struggling to survive because of human impact.”
The 2024–2025 EcoRise Teacher Ambassadors cohort includes:
Sixth-Year Ambassadors
- Aimee O’Brien—4th-grade teacher at Chacon Language and Science Academy in Sacramento City Unified School District (USD), Sacramento, California
- Denisse Ochoa—Librarian at North Early College High School in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Pharr, Texas
- Jennifer Humphrey—Science teacher at Nimitz Middle School in North East ISD, San Antonio, Texas
- Sabina Malkani—2nd-grade science and literacy intervention at Bruce-Monroe Elementary School at Park View in DC Public Schools, Washington, DC
Fifth-year Ambassadors
- Earl Gray—Sustainability Coordinator at Harlem Renaissance High School in New York Department of Education, New York, New York
- Octavia Wolf—5th-grade teacher at Barnard Elementary School in DC Public Schools, Washington, DC
Fourth-year Ambassadors
- Kelly Knight—Environmental science teacher at Katy High School at Katy ISD and adjunct professor at Houston Community College’s Department of Astronomy and Physics in Katy, Texas
- Tasha Messer—Kindergarten through 2nd-grade teacher at Winnona Park Elementary in City Schools of Decatur, Decatur, Georgia
Third-year Ambassadors
- Garth Marchant—STEAM and after-school science teacher at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in New York Department of Education, The Bronx, New York
- Laura Berenguer—High school special education teacher at Robert Renick Educational Center in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Garden, Florida
- Nina Acevedo—Spanish teacher at the Magnet School for Math and Science Inquiry (PS/IS192) in New York Department of Education, Brooklyn, New York
Second-year Ambassadors
- Cecelia Gillam—Environmental science teacher at Hahnville High School in St. Charles Parish Public Schools, Boutte, Louisiana
- Deborah Wang—Chemistry and physiology teacher at UCLA Community School at RFK in Los Angeles, California
- Kelly Villanueva—Special education team lead at Medio Creek Elementary in Southwest ISD, San Antonio, Texas
- Lauren Williams—Anatomy & physiology and environmental health teacher at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in DC Public Schools, Washington, DC
- Nelda Reyes— 6th-grade reading and language arts teacher at Raul Yzaguirre Middle School in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, San Juan, Texas
- Noelani Ogasawara—1st- and 2nd-grade teacher at UCLA Lab School in Los Angeles, California
- Tyler Colson—7th-grade social studies and hydroponics teacher at Eva Legard Center for Coastal and Environmental Studies in East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
First-year Ambassadors
- Alicia Kim—Forensic Science and Physics teacher at Navarro Early College High School in Austin ISD, South Austin, Texas
- Brittney Ivanov—Science teacher at the East Central High School Learning Academy in East Central ISD, San Antonio, TX
- Christopher James—Science Teacher at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona
- Claire Diane M. Tabanas—Biology and dual credit teacher at Mesa Public Schools in Maricopa, Arizona
- Daniela Willett—3rd Grade Dual Language classroom teacher in Volma Overton Elementary in Austin ISD, Austin, Texas
- JoEllen Schuleman—STEM Specialist at PS199 Jesse Isidor Straus Elementary in New York City Department of Education, New York, New York
- Judith Worrall—Writing and Electives Teacher at Nueva School, Hillsborough, California
- Kasey Meek—K–12 Education Director at Keep Oklahoma City Beautiful
- Latasha Limbre Lawrence—Biology teacher at James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School in Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, Florida
- Lisa Richarson—Bilingual librarian at Odom Elementary School in Austin ISD, South Austin, Texas
- Morgan Rom—Upper school science faculty at Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Philisha Adkins-Lewis—Environmental science teacher at Friendship Public Charter School in Washington, DC
The 2024–2025 cohort came together for the first time at the 7th annual EcoRise Summer Institute in San Antonio in July to connect with one another, get inspired, and learn how to support our movement. Keynote speaker Tamarra Callahan from the City of San Antonio commenced this professional development experience, sharing inspiring words about the crucial role students and teachers play in community climate resilience. The cohort also had an engaging conversation with alumni of the San Antonio Mayor’s Youth Council for Climate Initiatives about how adults can support youth climate anxiety and work towards climate justice through intergenerational collaboration. Thank you to our partners Southwest Airlines, UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, Love, Tito’s, and the Cadman Group for sponsoring this year’s Summer Institute.
One Ambassador reflected, “When people come together the possibilities are endless. Often teachers do not get time to collaborate and share together and this institute created that space. The time I’ve spent here helped me think about how I can take the EcoRise mission and share in my local community and enrich the learning and opportunities my students will have.”
EcoRise is thrilled to be working with these environmentally-minded teacher leaders who are inspiring youth-led climate action in communities across the U.S. To learn more about each of the 2024–2025 Teacher Ambassadors, click here.
