Staff

Amber Yeager became Pacific Education Institute’s Central Washington FieldSTEM coordinator in 2023 to connect our partners in Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, eastern Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima counties to community-based science outdoors. She is supported by her previous work as a public elementary school educator, and volunteer coordinator.  

Amber is a coal miner’s daughter who spent her childhood playing outdoors.  This embedded in her the belief that “opportunities to interact with the natural world help us see the interconnectedness of all life and motivates us to take care of the land and all its inhabitants.”  This belief is displayed in her recent work with horses and underserved populations at a non-profit therapeutic riding center.

Originally from rural West Virginia, Amber resides in Ellensburg where she enjoys adventuring with her two dogs, hiking, horsemanship, practicing yoga, and spending time with her two daughters.

Amy Dawley became Pacific Education Institute’s Eastern Washington FieldSTEM coordinator in 2021 to connect our partners in Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Perry, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties to community-based science outdoors. Amy believes solutions-focused community involvement provides a foundation for active hope.

Amy brings 25 years of experience working with youth and adults in environmental education, recently co-developing the Natural Environment and Water Resources sections of the City of Spokane Sustainability Action Plan. Amy’s favorite part of working with PEI is “being in a supportive role to educators – passionate people who are nurturing tomorrow’s decision- and solution-makers!”

Amy resides in Spokane where she and her daughter are Master Water Stewards, volunteering annually to monitor the health of two regional streams. She also enjoys backpacking, kayaking, cooking, and a good story.

Amy Keiper became Pacific Education Institute’s Northwest Washington FieldSTEM coordinator in 2022 to connect our partners in San Juan, Skagit, Whatcom, northern Snohomish, and northern Island counties to community-based science outdoors. Amy believes “all students should have access to rigorous science instruction that enables students to become critical thinkers and stewards”, earning her master’s degree in environmental education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

Amy co-created the experiential education program “Blaine Kids on the Beach” where fifth graders explore the ecology of Birch Bay Beach. Amy brings PEI her environmental education knowledge, as well as a decade of experience as a public-school general education teacher for third through fifth grade.

Amy resides in Bellingham where she enjoys gardening, mountain biking, and spending time with friends and family around Whatcom County.

Chelsea Trout joined Pacific Education Institute in 2023 as Education Pathways Coordinator to help students “gain sustainable employment after high school and make environmentally sound decisions as adults”. This inspiration drives Chelsea in developing Career Technical Education Frameworks for PEI’s Career Connect Washington Programs.

Chelsea was awarded Conservation Teacher of the Year in 2022 by Okanogan Conservation District for her work as the Okanogan High School’s Biology Teacher for “creating energy and action educating young people in natural resources conservation.” Her work reflects her devotion to underserved rural communities, stating “I’ve lived in rural America nearly all my life. I’ve seen how this work can impact students and their futures; with understanding comes confidence and reasoning.”

Originally from the east coast, Chelsea moved to North Central Washington State in 2016. She lives in Wenatchee where she enjoys exploring the outdoors with loved ones.

Eli Church joined Pacific Education Institute in 2023 as Executive Assistant (formerly Operations Coordinator) to support our executive, financial, and human resources personnel.

Eli brings PEI their experience as an environmental educator, as well as reception and administrative skills. She is “excited to support a community of students and educators in accessing FieldSTEM education.”

Eli resides in Olympia where she enjoys kayaking, eating, and doing crafts with her kid.

Emily Newman became Pacific Education Institute’s Lower Columbia FieldSTEM coordinator in 2023 to connect our partners in Cowlitz, Clark, western Klickitat, and Skamania counties to community-based science outdoors. The community partners who work with Emily appreciate her six years of experience as a middle school math and science teacher, as well as her background in marine ecology research.

About working for PEI, Emily states her “favorite experiences as a student and teacher were always when we were able to engage in learning outdoors.” Emily is an avid outdoorswoman and believes that hands-on learning and play outdoors are keys to engaged and thoughtful citizens.

Originally from southern Oregon, Emily resides in Portland where she enjoys hiking, kayaking, rafting, and camping with her children.

Gail Kramer joined Pacific Education Institute in 2016 as Finance and Human Resources Director to manage and improve finance and business operations. Gail’s business knowledge is supported by her commitment to “PEI’s mission to support Washington educators to take their students outdoors.”

Gail brings PEI her decades of administrative experience. Her mastery of accounts payable and receivable, budget, accounting and financial reporting, grant management, human resources, employee benefits, payroll, and risk management and compliance are invaluable to daily operations.

Gail is half Puerto Rican and a proud descendent of the Nisqually and Colville Indian Tribes. She resides in Tumwater where she enjoys traveling, hiking, crafting, home remodeling projects, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Heather Spalding joined Pacific Education Institute in 2022 as Green Jobs Coordinator, becoming Associate Director of Green Jobs in 2023, to strengthen statewide environmental FieldSTEM career pathways. Her former career developing experiential educational programs is invaluable to her work partnering with employers, career and technical colleges, and higher education institutes.

Heather’s passion for lifelong learning has earned her a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy from Portland State University, as well as a certificate in Permaculture and Whole Systems Design with Toby Hemenway. About working for PEI, Heather states “I want to support the next generation in learning to think critically and systemically, so they can make sense of the huge amounts of information available today.”

Heather resides in Ellensburg where she enjoys making art, reading, writing, and gardening.

John Hunter became Pacific Education Institute’s Coastal Region FieldSTEM coordinator in 2022 to connect our partners in Grays Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakum, western Clallam, and western Jefferson counties to community-based science outdoors. John has earned a master’s degree in biology from the University of Southern California, as well as Connecticut’s Alternate Route to Certification II secondary science certificate.

John’s 50-year science education career has exemplified his commitment to servant leadership. He states that his time working on a museum’s curatorial staff “helped me see beyond the egos to understand how science functions as a social system.” His commitment to scientific equity awarded John PEI’s FieldSTEM Teacher of the Year in 2020 for his work as a high school science teacher in Forks, WA.

John resides in Forks where he volunteers doing beach surveys and clean-ups. He enjoys gardening and being outdoors with his two grandchildren.

Heidi Smith began contracting with Pacific Education Institute in 2017 and formally joined as Associate Director of Communications and Development in 2022. Her 13 years of experience as a middle and high school English teacher is invaluable to her work curating PEI’s newsletter, website, and social media accounts.

Heidi “discovered firsthand the power of nature as a teacher and healer” while facilitating experiential outdoor programs for at-risk youth in Hawaii and Washington. This inspired her belief that “direct and meaningful experiences in nature are the quickest way to make people care about it.” Her master’s degree in education from The Evergreen State College continued the focus on experiential learning.

Originally from California, Heidi resides in Yelm where she volunteers on the board of a nonprofit focused on food security. She enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, kayaking, and watching and reading comedy.

Prior to joining PEI in late 2016, Kathryn oversaw STEM curriculum for the Anchorage School District, where she designed the progression for K-12 STEM education to align with career pathways and Next Generation Science Standards. Before her role as STEM Curriculum Coordinator, she was a classroom teacher for 12 years. She began her career as a research biologist and has served in leadership roles with state and federal agencies as well as nonprofit, for-profit, and Tribal organizations in Alaska and Washington State and has served on several nonprofit and association boards. She holds a BS in biology from Lewis and Clark College, an MA in educational assessment with a focus on science performance assessment from Alaska Pacific University, and a certificate of educational leadership from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Lara Tukarski became Pacific Education Institute’s South Sound FieldSTEM Coordinator in 2021 to connect our partners in Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties to community-based science outdoors. She has worked in environmental education for over twenty years and holds a Master of Science degree in molecular ecology.

Lara is passionate about engaging youth with nature in ways which nurture community, identity, and a fierce sense of place. She brings PEI her experience as a middle and high school science teacher, backcountry youth guide, and founding director of K-12 Green Schools and STEM programs in the Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound regions.

Lara lives with her husband, dogs, and chickens on a small farm in Olympia where she enjoys skiing, backpacking, swimming in mountain lakes, gardening, rockhounding, and making folk art.

Lourdes Flores joined Pacific Education Institute in 2021. As Multicultural Engagement Coordinator works to provide equitable access to FieldSTEM materials and support our Spanish speaking community partners. Lourdes centers her work around her “personal philosophy of connecting local communities to local conservation efforts.”

Lourdes’ passion for community-based conservation began while working with local fisherman in Mexico. This inspired her to earn a master’s degree in marine science and education from University of Washington. She brings PEI her experience as marine researcher, as well as a bilingual science educator, and Washington State Science fellow.

Originally from Mexico City, Lourdes volunteers on the board of a non-profit dedicated to conserving local Mexican fishing communities. She resides in Olympia and enjoys being in and around the ocean, hiking, reading, cooking, and eating with friends and family.

Lydia Geschiere became Pacific Education Institute’s East Sound North FieldSTEM coordinator in 2023 to connect our partners in King and Snohomish counties to community-based science outdoors. She believes that “when students feel connected to our more-than-human communities, they take action that is informed and aligned with the pursuit of justice.” 

Lydia’s work with PEI is supported by a Master’s degree in education from the University of Washington, and ten years of experience in place-based environmental education. She taught marine ecology prior to graduate school, and her recent teaching work focuses on developing learners’ capacity to connect with and within the outdoor world and be leaders in the environmental and climate justice movements.

Originally from the Midwest, Lydia resides in Seattle where she enjoys exploring on her bicycle, drinking coffee with friends, and listening to live music.

Megan Rivard became Pacific Education Institute’s Central Washington FieldSTEM coordinator in 2019 to connect our Central Washington partners to community-based science outdoors. Megan became Associate Director of Columbia Basin and Coast Region in 2023. Megan is driven by her values of “learning, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision-making.”

Megan brings PEI her experience as a certified formal classroom teacher, Education Service District 105 Science Fellow, and nonformal science program developer and teacher. Our community partners are Megan’s favorite part of her work. She loves to “gain exposure to different perspectives, learn new skills and content, and collaborate with others from diverse backgrounds.”

Megan resides in Ellensburg where she enjoys hiking, exploring, and spending time with her kids.

Michelle M Townshend joined Pacific Education Institute as the State Project Specialist in 2018 to help “further the experiences and resources necessary to build healthy education.” She brings her years of teaching experience and passion for working with marginalized students to her role as curriculum writer and workshop facilitator under Washington state’s ClimeTime grant.

As a classroom teacher, Michelle was honored as Distinguished Educator in 2003, and Spokane Teacher of the Month in 2015. Michelle launched The Walking Project: an Experiential Alternative to In-School Suspension in 2019, and continues to work coordinating outdoor experiences for refugee students.

Originally from Alaska, Michelle resides in Spokane where she enjoys working on her farm, skiing, riding her bike, reading, and spending time with her dad.

Molly Griffiths joined Pacific Education Institute’s in 2020 as West Sound FieldSTEM coordinator to connect our partners in Kitsap County to community-based science outdoors. Molly became Associate Director of Puget Sound Region in 2023. She shares PEI’s passion for building a scientifically literate citizenry, earning a master’s degree in teaching and a 6-12 Montessori Teaching Certificate.

Molly brings twelve years of experience as a formal educator and an appreciation for outdoor education, stating “nature has the ability to improve human health, foster strong connections to the world around us, and provide more equitable learning spaces.”

Originally from Oregon, Molly resides in Tacoma where she enjoys spending time with her family, attending local farmer’s markets, walking on the beach, and forest bathing. Her goal is to share her passion for nature with children and adults.

Rachel Drummond joined Pacific Education Institute in 2022 as Program Coordinator to support our FieldSTEM coordinators in promoting, delivering, and processing workshops and attendance data. Her statewide work is vital to PEI’s mission of facilitating community-based science outdoors.

Rachel is supported by her previous experience working in healthcare. She transitioned into environmental education work to help students learn about how they interact with and impact nature. Her favorite part of working for PEI is “getting students away from their desks, outside, and taking care of the land.”

Rachel resides in her hometown of Seattle where she enjoys anime, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and going on outdoor adventures with her kiddo.