Aimee O’Brien

Aimee O’Brien has 28 years of experience in education, including 25 at Chacon Language and Science Academy in Sacramento, part of one of the original charter schools in the country. Chacon is dedicated to providing seven years of science education to students before they enter middle school, through hands-on experiential learning, in person field trips, school gardens, and community improvement projects. She has successfully created a Sustainability Network of teachers and district staff who are passionate about environmental education and furthering sustainability learning and projects within the district and city. In her free time, she travels, attends reggae festivals, reads, and spends time at her historic forest service cabin near South Lake Tahoe. This is Aimee’s sixth year as an Ambassador.

Connect with Aimee on Instagram, @amiamas.

Alicia Kim

As an educator, Alicia Kim is deeply committed to fostering environmental stewardship and empowering her students to make positive changes in their communities. Alicia uses the interactive EcoRise lessons to encourage students to think critically about environmental issues and explore innovative solutions. At EcoRise, Alicia provides teachers and students with the tools and knowledge they need to create a more sustainable future. She is excited to be part of an organization that is making a tangible difference in the world by educating and empowering young minds to become agents of positive change.

Brittney Ivanov

Brittney Ivanov is a science educator and lifelong learner; she continued down the path of education after graduating from MSU with a B.S. in zoology in 2014. She joined a behavioral evolution lab at Trinity University as a lab technician working with undergraduates and managing the day-to-day lab activities. In 2018, she joined Trinity’s MAT program, then in 2019 began teaching environmental systems at SAISD’s Burbank High School. In 2020, she became a part of the ECISD family as the science teacher at the East Central High School Learning Academy—its last-chance credit recovery program. While there, she worked to perfect an environmental systems Project-Based Learning unit, revising and updating it with every cohort. The global-minded, environmentally, sustainably focused course she created was aided heavily by EcoRise curriculum and Eco-Audit Grants. She is excited to help share this opportunity and resource with other teachers to benefit students everywhere.

Dr. Cecelia Gillam

Cecelia Gillam earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University of Hammond. Cecelia has been a science teacher in St. Charles Parish for 18 years. She has helped write science district curricula and assessments for Environmental Science. Recently, she has become an advocate for the National Equity Project, selected as a board member for the Black Teacher Project. She is a certified coach for Pear Deck, EdPuzzle, and Screencastify. She is also a Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator and Expert Mentor for Modern Classroom. Cecelia is a Teacher Leader Advisor in EdTech content for the Louisiana Department of Education. She has attended and presented at multiple national conferences, including the International Society for Technology inEducation and the National Science Teaching Association, to train teachers on incorporating EdTech tools in their classrooms. Cecelia created a step team to engage at-risk youth in a positive community service-based organization. She has published a motivational children’s book–Black Girl, Black Girl, You Are AMAZING!–which can be found on Amazon. She is a National Grand Prize Winner for the Shell Lab Grant and a recent recipient of the Shell Urban Educator Development award. She has served as an affinity group leader for the State of Louisiana with the goal of helping to retain and preserve new science teachers. Cecelia comes with a wealth of knowledge that can benefit all science teachers across the nation. This is Cecelia’s second year as an Ambassador.

Connect with Cecelia Twitter, @cecelia21082.

Christopher James

Christopher James, a native of New York state, has led a life enriched by diverse experiences and a passion for the natural world. Having resided in Maryland, Ecuador, Florida, and now Arizona, he has a nomadic spirit that has shaped his worldview. This adventurous spirit has led him to spend significant periods in the Amazon, the Andes, and the Galapagos Islands, where he has forged deep connections with nature and small communities. Throughout his career, Chris has worn many hats, ranging from zookeeper to researcher, conservationist, nature reserve director, and environmental educator. Presently, he shares his experiences as a high school science teacher in Tucson, Arizona.

Balancing his professional commitments with a fulfilling personal life, Chris is a devoted husband and father, nurturing a binational/bicultural family. In his leisure time, he finds joy in biking, hiking, dancing, snorkeling, photography, puzzle-solving, and indulging in the captivating realms of science fiction. With an unwavering curiosity, Chris embraces the unknown, always eager to explore uncharted paths and uncover the wonders they hold. Chris became interested in EcoRise after attending a Green Schools Conference presentation on its Gen:Thrive program and is eager to learn more.

Connect with Christopher on Instagram, @gitanomad.

Claire Diane M. Tabanas

Claire Diane M. Tabanas is a dedicated biology and dual credit biology teacher in Maricopa, Arizona. Her passion for education and sustainability was further ignited upon receiving the SustainabilityNewsletter from Arizona State University, which introduced her to an exciting opportunity that promises to enhance her skills as an educator and formator. Eager to make a positive impact, Claire is set to launch the EcoRise club at her school next academic year. Through this club, she aims to collaborate with student leaders who are committed to environmental stewardship, not only within the school community but also on a global scale. Her enthusiasm for fostering environmental awareness and action among his students underscores his commitment to their holistic development and to the planet’s well-being.

Connect with Claire on Instagram, @clairebeardiane.

Daniela Willett

Daniela Willett is a third-grade dual-language (Spanish/English) teacher. She has taught at Volma Overton Elementary in Austin, Texas, for 17 years. She believes in holding high expectations for all learners while providing support, access, and opportunities. She sees learning as a dynamic and joyful process and builds connections through experience, social interaction, and purpose. Daniela looks forward to her first year as an EcoRise Ambassador and continuing to support students to become innovative problem-solvers driven by kindness, empathy, and community.

Connect with Daniela on X, @WillettDaniela, or on Instagram, @dvwillett.

Deborah Wang

Deborah Wang is approaching her seventh year in teaching high school science in the urban Los Angeles area in Southern California. She has experience teaching middle school science, biology, chemistry, physiology, and, surprisingly, firefighting. Deborah recognizes how impactful the health of the environment is to the health of the community that lives and uses the land’s resources. She finds rejuvenation in nature while hiking with her fur baby, Mista, in the tranquil mountains of the Angeles National Forest. Deborah is excited to start her second year bringing environmental justice to her students through her ambassadorship with EcoRise. Her favorite EcoRise lesson is teaching students about collecting data and about waste management on their campus. This is Deborah’s second year as an Ambassador.

Denisse Ochoa

Denisse Ochoa is an enthusiastic educator who has dedicated her career to fostering environmental literacy among students. Denisse is currently the librarian at PSJA North Early College High School. Her journey towards her EcoRise Teacher Ambassadorship began when she attended an EcoRise workshop and was inspired by its innovative approach to teaching sustainability. As an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador, Denisse is excited to share her expertise with fellow educators and empower them to integrate environmental education into their classrooms. Through her role as an ambassador, Denisse hopes to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and create amore sustainable future. This is Denisse’s sixth year as an Ambassador.

Earl Gray

Earl Gray is the sustainability coordinator at Harlem Renaissance High School (HRHS) in New York City, New York. His challenge is to turn HRHS into a sustainable learning environment for everyone utilizing the garden/greenhouse as well as the classrooms todo so. Being an EcoRise Ambassador is very exciting for Earl; EcoRise’s curriculum and support have allowed him to take big steps in inspiring HRHS to appreciate and respect the need to have environmental equity in the urban settings of NYC. This is Earl’s fifth year as an Ambassador.

Garth Marchant

Garth Marchant has been teaching for seven years as a science teacher in the NYC DOE and works at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in the South Bronx. As a black male teacher, he fights to have equity in the classroom and make sure students of color are exposed to life changing opportunities in STEAM. He is a strong proponent of student voice and strives to prepare all students to be successful and productive in their future lives by challenging them to reach their fullest potential. This is his third year as an EcoRise Ambassador, and he is looking forward to another year in the program.

Jennifer Humphrey

Jennifer Humphrey just finished her 16th year teaching science at the STEM Academy in SanAntonio, Texas, and her 22nd year in education. She began her career in education teaching outdoor environmental science in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Texas. She spent summers leading outdoor trips in New York and Maine. She enjoys traveling and has been to 23 different countries and to 48 of the 50 U.S. states. She loves reading, the outdoors, and spending time with family. This is Jennifer’s sixth year as an Ambassador.

Connect with Jennifer on TikTok, @coolscienceteach.

JoEllen Schuleman

JoEllen Schuleman is passionate about inspiring her students to act on their desire to steward our planet. She started her teaching career in Houston, Texas, 27 years ago. In 2003, she moved to NewYork City, where she is now the STEM Specialist for grades three to five at PS199 in Manhattan. A three-time Master Teacher Fellow with Math for America and member of the NYC Department of Education’s Elementary Science Leadership Team, JoEllen integrates hydroponics, environmental justice, and climate education into her science curriculum. One of her favorite aspects of the Sustainable Intelligence Curriculum is the Eco-Audits, which empower students to exercise their agency in identifying problems, designing solutions, and seeing them come to fruition. She is excited to join EcoRise as an Ambassador and to collaborate with other like-minded educators and share in expanding EcoRise’s mission and resources with other teachers

Connect with JoEllen on Instagram, @ms_s_science.

Judith Worrall

Judith Worrall is a writing and electives teacher at the Nueva School for the Gifted in Hillsborough, California, where she leads students in grades five through eight on environmental projects like building paths, digging channels, and planting native plants. With a career that spans teaching from kindergarten through grade 12 to degree level across three continents, Judith holds master’s degrees in early years education and in cultural studies and critical theory. Her extensive educational background helps her adapt her teaching to a wide range of student experiences. Recently named a Sustainable and Climate Ready Schools Challenge Standout Leader, Judith is excited to begin her first year as an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador. In this role, she aims to extend her local projects to wider community involvement, inspiring sustainable actions within her school and nationally. This commitment reflects her passion for environmental education and her dedication to engaging students in meaningful outdoor learning, as seen in her favorite EcoRise lesson on sustainable water solutions.

Kasey Meek

Kasey Meek brings her passion for nature and education into one role as OKC Beautiful’s Education Director, overseeing youth environmental education programs. Combining her environmental science degree with a decade of experience in recreational programming, she aims to encourage children’s curiosity about nature in hopes it will lead to a greater appreciation for all life. Kasey interacts with 15,000 students every year while delivering environmental education. She interacts with hundreds of teachers and is excited to provide resources and bridge gaps in education by being an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador!

Kelly Knight

Kelly Knight is an environmental science instructor at Katy High School (KHS) and serves as an adjunct professor for Houston Community College’s Department of Astronomy and Physics. She is also the faculty sponsor for the KHS Beekeeping Club and a founding team member of the KHS Tiger Prairie Project. Before teaching, she worked for eight years as a reservoir geologist in the oil and gas industry. She earned her bachelor of science in geology from the University of Northern Iowa, her master of science in geoscience from Pennsylvania State University, and her master of education in curriculum and instruction (secondary science emphasis) from the University of Houston. Kelly is excited to be an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador and help bring sustainability and environmental justice to the forefront of every community! This is Kelly’s fourth year as an Ambassador.

Connect with Kelly on Instagram, @kelly.m.knight.

Latasha Limbre Lawrence

Latasha Lawrence is in her 22nd year as an educator. Latasha obtained her bachelor’s degree in gerontology from Bethune Cookman University, and she earned a master of health science from theUniversity of Central Florida. This school year, she worked as a dean of sixth grade students at Oceanway Middle School in Jacksonville, Florida. She served as a biology teacher at James WeldonJohnson College Preparatory Middle School in Jacksonville for 19 years. At James Weldon Johnson, she provided the students with countless opportunities in science. This year, she collaborated with a biology teacher to provide students with after-school STEM related activities, including one on sustainability. This is Latasha’s first year as an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador. Being an EcoRise Ambassador will allow Latasha to amplify her impact on students and teachers, lead eco-friendly initiatives, and foster a sense of environmental stewardship.

Connect with Latasha on Instagram, @lawrencelatasha3.

Lauren Berenguer

Laura Berenguer is a passionate educator at Robert Renick Educational Center in Miami, Florida. In 1993, Laura obtained her Bachelor of Science in Emotional Handicap from Florida International University, then she continued to further her education by obtaining a Master of Science in TSOL and Special Education. Laura has been teaching special education for over 25 years and has always sought to provide her students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences to enhance their education, meet their unique learning needs, and help them develop into responsible citizens. The opportunity to serve as an EcoRise Ambassador has given Laura a platform to encourage the participation and engagement of other educators, particularly special education educators, in various EcoRise projects. Laura is excited to continue to serve as an EcoRise Ambassador for a third year to inspire the next generation of advocates for sustainability and to engage others in activities and projects to better their communities and our planet!

Lauren R. Williams

As a 17-year teaching veteran, Lauren R. Williams is a passionate science educator, doula, and herbalist who currently teaches 11th and 12th grade anatomy & physiology and environmental health at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC. Prior to that, Lauren spent 10 years teaching biology and environmental science at Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She obtained her B.A. in biological sciences from Florida Atlantic University, her master of educational leadership and administration from Lynn University, and her master of public health from Walden University.

Lauren continues to work with students from various demographics to show them how environmental sustainability and environmental health align and play a vital role in our overall health. She is excited to return as a second year EcoRise Teacher Ambassador and hopes to continue using this opportunity to meet and fellowship with other amazing science educators. Lauren also hopes to continue highlighting the goodness ofEcoRise and environmental health education into more classrooms in her school district.

Connect with Laura on Instagram, @_mydoulalola.

Lisa Richarson

Lisa Richardson is a bilingual librarian in South Austin, Texas. She started her career as a special education teaching assistant and attendance clerk, then finished her B.A. in foreign languages and literatures at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. After having three children while her husband served in the Army, she returned to Austin ISD to teach second grade until her principal pushed her to consider librarianship. After returning for a master’s of science in information studies at the University of Texas at Austin, she took up the mantle of librarian and has loved every minute since.She works at her neighborhood school where her children attend and is living the dream one day at a time. She’s excited to be an EcoRise Ambassador because of the way the students grow during their projects and the immense on-campus impacts of the projects.

Connect with Lisa on Instagram, @richardsonasaur, or on Twitter @richardsonasaur.

Morgan Rom

Morgan Rom is entering her eighth year of full-time teaching upper school science classes at a private school in Oklahoma City. While in her faculty position, she has taught anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry and honors chemistry, forensic science, and AP Environmental Science. She has mentored several students through Independent Studies Projects, with topics centered around food insecurity, the COVID pandemic’s impact on emergency medical professionals, the endocrine system and infertility, bias in the medical field, and more. She holds a B.S. in animal science and an M.S. in nutritional science. Morgan loves God’s creation and all the living things in it. She is passionate about promoting care for the earth and all its things so that we may all live a life full of love, health, and goodness, as He intended. Joining the EcoRise program thrills her!

Nelda Reyes

Nelda Reyes is a sixth-grade reading/language arts teacher at Raul Yzaguirre Middle School in PSJA ISD, in South Texas. Through hard work, dedication, and a love for education, Nelda pursued a career that would allow her to empower students’ voices and create an optimal environment for learning. Asan EcoRise Teacher Ambassador, Nelda is at the forefront of environmental education. Her journey began with a passion for sustainable living, which led her to a method of education that advocates for the empowerment of students to tackle real-world challenges by integrating sustainable, environmental, and social justice design into the curriculum. Nelda is thrilled to represent EcoRise because it aligns with her belief that education is the key to a greener future. This is Nelda’s second year as a Teacher Ambassador.

Nina Acevedo

Nina Acevedo lives in New York City, New York, and works at the NYC Department of Education.She received a master’s in educational leadership and administration from Long Island University, and she received a master of science in education of students with disabilities from BrooklynCollege. At a young age, Nina attended Colombia’s Colegio Alejandro de Humboldt, which promoted the importance of caring for the environment. Since then, she has had a passion for participating in projects that foster appreciation for the environment. Nina is currently the sustainability coordinator at her school and continues to work with the San Lorenzo Project inColombia to coordinate school gardens, incorporate environment awareness into the curriculum, and support extracurricular events that promote sustainability. This is Nina’s third year as an Ambassador.

Connect with Nicole on Twitter, @msnicoleyvette.

Noelani Ogasawara Morris

Noelani Ogasawara Morris has been teaching for 19 years in Los Angeles and is completing her 16th year as a demonstration teacher at the UCLA Lab School. In addition to her work as a classroom teacher, Noelani has served as a facilitator and evaluator for the STEM for All Video Showcase, a UCLA math project facilitator for teacher professional development in LAUSD, and as a California Teach Science instructor for undergraduate students at UCLA. During her first year as an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador, Noelani was excited to support her primary students as they applied for and were awarded their first Eco-Audit grant to purchase native plants for their school piazza in order to improve the presence of pollinators in their school’s natural ecosystem. She is excited to continue to support her colleagues at the Lab School as they explore and make cross-curricular connections to the EcoRise environmental sustainability lessons and resources.This is Noelani’s second year as a Teacher Ambassador.

Octavia Wolf

Octavia Wolf is celebrating her 10th year in education in DC Public Schools, where she has served as both a special and general educator in grades five through eight. She has spoken at four national conferences within the past year about using the school as an environmental education learning tool. She has a passion for justice and believes that every child should have access to transformational opportunities and experiences at school. Octavia uses the EcoRise lessons as a part of her balanced literacy approach to teaching researching, reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This past year, her classes were awarded an Eco-Audit grant for aquaponics systems in the classroom to improve air quality. She is excited to return as a fifth-year Ambassador for the 2024–2025 school year.

Philisha Adkins-Lewis

Philisha Adkins-Lewis was born on August 19, 1993, in Northeast Washington, DC. She started her educational experience in Washington, DC, by attending Anne Beers Elementary, Kelly Miller Middle School, and Friendship Collegiate Academy High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in agriculture science and pre-veterinary animal science from Virginia State University.

As a child, Philisha always had a passion for animals. She decided what she wanted to be when she was in sixth grade. Graduating from high school, she started on her journey to become a marine biologist. While attending Virginia State University, she gained knowledge about agriculture–what she referred to as “The Big Picture”. She learned that agriculture has many different categories and titles that she wanted to explore. Instead of focusing on one category, she decided to study agriculture as a whole. Now, she currently teaches environmental science, dual-enrollment college courses, and three EcoRise courses.

Sabina Malkani

Sabina Malkani is originally from Canada, and her family is from India. She is a teacher inWashington, DC, and loves to find ways to weave data collection, science, and engineering into the lessons that she teaches. This is her fifth year as an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador. Sabina loves to sing, take Bollywood Zumba classes with girlfriends, and organize community events. On weekends, Sabina enjoys trying new restaurants with her 10-year-old son, who is a real foodie!

Tasha L. J. Messer

Tasha L. J. Messer finds joy in inspiring the next generation of eco-activists. Whether delighting in sowing seeds to cultivate edible and pollinator plants or expanding perspectives through binocular gazes during an exploratory and meditative learning activity she calls “Bird Walks and Whispers”, she has made creating student-led moments where curiosity abounds her signature. Present and past accolades to her credit include Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land Board Member, Georgia Beloved Naturalist, EcoRise Teacher Ambassador, Georgia Master Gardener Association (GMGA) District Director-NW3, Birds Georgia Master Birder, Georgia School Master Gardener, EdibleSchoolyard Academy Alumnae, and Captain Planet Project Learning Garden Liaison. In addition to her love of the natural world, Tasha is a self-proclaimed foodie who recently reignited her joy of roller skating. A hobby she and her family share is simulating their own test kitchen environment by preparing interesting new celebrity chef-like recipes. What she looks forward to most in her day-to-day walk in life is experiencing exciting new things that take her out of her comfort zone and evolving those things into enriching lessons for her students. This is Tasha’s fourth year as an Ambassador.

Connect with Tasha on Instagram, @tljmesser, or on X, @MesserMoments.

Tyler Colson

Tyler Colson is a seventh grade social studies and aquaponics teacher at Eva Legard Center forCoastal and Environmental Studies, a school that targets students from disadvantaged areas and allows them the opportunity to study environmental sciences through a partnership with Louisiana State University. As a native of the same low-income neighborhood in which she teaches, Tyler is excited about being an EcoRise Teacher Ambassador because of her dedication to environmental justice in her home community of South Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is passionate about using the school’s theme to encourage her students to be advocates, and her favorite EcoRise lessons are the environmental justice lessons, because students can reflect on injustices that occur in their own community. This is Tyler’s second year as a Teacher Ambassador.

Connect with Tyler on X, @tylerlovesteach.