On September 26th, PEI hosted its annual FieldSTEM Celebration at Lacey Community Center to honor educators who integrate outdoor, place-based learning in public schools. The event recognized the work of teachers, schools, districts, community partners, and legislators.
“We get to learn about the great things teachers, schools, and districts across the state are doing that are really impacting students in a positive way,” said PEI’s Board President Leslie Druffel, Outreach Director for The McGregor Company. “It’s a happy event.”
Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) and the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) were the event’s main sponsors, along with table sponsors Taylor Shellfish and Port Blakely and event sponsors Manulife and Puget Sound Energy.
PEI provides training and resources for K-12 educators to engage students in outdoor learning through workshops and customized professional development. FieldSTEM is an award-winning educational model that connects schools and districts with partners in conservation and natural resources to offer local opportunities for students to explore nature and learn about careers.
Each year, PEI recognizes individuals and organizations who are bringing the FieldSTEM model to life. This year’s honorees:
FieldSTEM Teacher of the Year: Robin Driver, Eisenhower High School, Yakima. For the past three years, Driver has been the lead teacher for PEI’s Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) program, a six-week summer course that combines classroom learning with hands-on experience in restoration ecology. She also finds opportunities to integrate outdoor learning year-round. “Robin’s ongoing commitment to this work is the result of her passion for supporting students who are experiencing barriers and challenges,” said PEI’s Green Jobs Coordinator Chelsea Trout. “She has tirelessly prepared a robust program that guides youth to learn about career pathways in natural resources while supporting their development and job skills.”
“We get to learn about the great things teachers, schools, and districts across the state are doing that are really impacting students in a positive way. It’s a happy event.” –PEI’s Board President Leslie Druffel, Outreach Director for The McGregor Company.
FieldSTEM School of the Year: Ida Nason Aronica Elementary, Ellensburg School District. In just a few short years, Ida Nason Aronica Elementary has created a school vegetable garden and a native first-foods garden dedicated to namesake Ida Nason Aronica. Their students have engaged in numerous high-quality field experiences, all while integrating crucial components of the John McCoy (lulilaš loot-lee-o-ash) Tribal Sovereignty curriculum across subjects like science, English Language Arts (ELA), and social studies. “Ida Nason Aronica Elementary is a shining example of what FieldSTEM looks like in action,” said Megan Rivard, PEI Associate Director for the Columbia Basin & Coast Region. “They’ve built a strong, culturally relevant, and sustainable program that inspires their students and engages the larger community. Their dedication to place-based learning, honoring the legacy of Ida Nason Aronica, and providing their students with opportunities to grow into changemakers is truly remarkable.”
FieldSTEM District of the Year: Tumwater School District. Tumwater district students have gained firsthand experience of geology, performed water quality testing, studied macroinvertebrates in the field, and explored wild food traditions in their region – all with support from multiple state agencies, the City of Tumwater, local conservation groups, and a local college. The district also participated in PEI’s six-week YESS summer program for the second consecutive year, connecting high school students with professionals in the natural resources and conservation sectors. “This is what happens when an entire district comes together around the design of learning where our world becomes the campus,” said PEI’s former South Sound FieldSTEM Coordinator Lara Tukarski.
FieldSTEM Community Collaborator of the Year: Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (MCFEG) MCFEG coordinates efforts to protect and restore wild fish populations and habitats with state and federal agencies, tribes, local conservation organizations, and more. Education is also an essential aspect of MCFEG’s work, and they have been a strong partner of PEI’s YESS program from the beginning. “Mid-Columbia Fisheries always has a new project on the horizon to inspire the next generation’s personal and professional choices that benefit wild salmonid populations, their habitats, and ecosystem function,” said PEI’s Associate Director of Green Jobs Heather Spalding. “Their work is making an incredible impact on communities in the Columbia River watershed and beyond.”
FieldSTEM Legislator of the Year: Kristine Reeves (D-Federal Way). Representative Reeves has been instrumental in increasing the level of funding PEI receives through a legislative proviso initially passed in 2015. She continues to be a staunch advocate for K-12 students and outdoor learning. “Asking for an increase in any budget is not an easy lift,” noted PEI Legislative Liaison Nora Palatto-Barnes, “and yet Rep. Reeves has worked as our champion both with the Democratic and Republican members in both the House and Senate to get the increase passed. This funding is critical to both maintain the relationships with our existing FieldSTEM districts and to build relationships with new districts and partners.”
FieldSTEM Champion of the Year: Mark Doumit, WFPA (posthumous). Mark Doumit is best remembered as a tireless champion of Washington forests and the driving force behind the state’s landmark Forests & Fish Law that supports salmon habitat and recovery efforts and preserves more than 60,000 miles of streams running through 9.3 million acres of private and public forestland. A former small tree farmer, Doumit served in the Washington State Legislature from 1997 through 2006 before leaving public office to lead the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) as executive director. In that role, he advocated for private forest landowners who manage four million acres of woodlands. Doumit passed away unexpectedly in 2021.
“I fondly remember the time I had with Mark,” PEI Executive Director Kathryn Kurtz shared. “I benefited greatly by understanding his vision for PEI, especially with respect to legislative work. As a PEI Board member, Mark led the effort to secure the FieldSTEM proviso in 2015 as part of Washington’s legislative investment in the work we do.”-