Our Story

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.

With PEI since early 2015, Denise has spent 30 years in the natural resource education arena as a nonformal conservation and environmental educator, teacher trainer, outreach specialist, and nonprofit director. She holds a BS in secondary science education and a BS in resource recreation management from Oregon State University’s College of Forestry. 

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.

Katie Hatam (she/her) joined Pacific Education Institute in 2020 as Program Coordinator to support our FieldSTEM coordinators in delivering community-based science outdoors. She currently serves as Associate Director of Programs. Her statewide work is supported by a master’s degree in education from Antioch University, where she studied the intersection of environmental education and social justice.

Katie is committed to “uplifting the voices and solutions of those most impacted by climate change” and serves on PEI’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Committee. Her leadership focuses on “being kind, doing the right thing even when no one is looking, and doing whatever is in our power to leave things better than we found it.”

Originally from Northern California, Katie resides in Olympia where she enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, and hanging out with her teenage sons.

Heidi Smith has been working with PEI as a contractor since 2017 before joining the staff as Associate Director of Communications and Development. A California transplant by way of Hawaii, her passions include writing, education and the outdoors.  

After a decade of working with historically underserved students in the Hawaiian islands, Washington State and abroad, she earned a Masters Degree in Teaching from The Evergreen State College. She spent the following 13 years in the classroom teaching middle and high school English and E.L.L. and serving as adjunct faculty at Bates Technical College, Saint Martin’s University and South Puget Sound Community College. Along the way she has been the editor-in-chief of an international quarterly magazine, a high school soccer coach, a humor columnist, a counselor and an eight-time trail crew leader with the Student Conservation Association. When not working, she can be found hiking, cheering on professional women’s soccer teams, gardening or relaxing on her (usually!) sunny deck in Yelm.  

Eli Church joined Pacific Education Institute in 2023 as 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.

Rachel joined PEI in September of 2022. She is a Seattle native with a love for the PNW and any time spent outdoors regardless of the season. She is confident that real education starts in your backyard/neighborhood through observation, exploration, and play. 

Outside of work, Rachel spends time camping, gardening, hiking, trying new foods and doing some sort of home improvement project. She is excited about joining PEI and looks forward to supporting coordinators so that more educators feel empowered to teach outdoors and connect students with their environment. She believes there is a connection that each of us has with the earth and anytime we get to pause and observe it, or even learn/work in it, we should.

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.

Heather joined PEI in 2022 as Green Jobs Coordinator. In this role, she strengthens statewide green FieldSTEM career pathways in partnership with employers, career and technical colleges, and higher education institutions. She resides in Ellensburg and is excited to connect with PEI’s partners across Washington.

Heather completed her M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy with a specialization in Leadership for Sustainability Education, and a B.S. in General Science, both from Portland State University. She also completed a Permaculture and Whole Systems Design Certificate with Toby Hemenway. Heather has developed a variety of experiential educational programs and has served in an advisory capacity for organizations that focus on sustainability, student development and leadership, STEM careers, civic engagement, and higher education. Outside of work, Heather enjoys gardening, creating art, reading, writing, and traveling.

Lourdes, a native Spanish speaker from Mexico City, began her career as a community biologist in Baja California, Mexico, where her passion for integrating local knowledge and Science led her to work with local fishing communities to design and improve protected natural areas in Mexico. She also designed and implemented high school Science programs in Mexico City.  In 1995, after completing a Master’s degree in Marine Science and Education at the University of Washington, she continued her work to advance citizen science and environmental education both through Mexican and U.S. organizations.

Since 2014, as a Bilingual Science teacher, Washington State Science fellow, and PEI Science grade-level coordinator, Lourdes has promoted teacher participation in STEM Science Programs and students’ field experiences in Washington State. Lourdes continues to support educators to successfully engage in the PEI Science programs to advance scientific literacy by promoting equitable, outdoor, locally and culturally relevant, integrated, career and real-world connected, science education.

Currently residing in Spokane, WA, Michelle hails from Alaska. Her education started with a scholarship to study concert piano and culminated with a BS degree in Agronomy from University of Idaho. She worked for the USDA as an underwriter throughout the Pacific Northwest and moved into national training for USDA programs. She started teaching secondary science in Spokane, became National Board certified, and was honored with Distinguished Educator in 2003 and Spokane Teacher of the Month in 2015. She served on state committees working on state assessments for OSPI. In 2019, She launched the Walking Project: an Experiential Alternative to In-School Suspension. She is currently working with Pacific Education Institute as a curriculum writer and workshop facilitator under ClimeTime grant.

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, 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.

Daniel Cuevas became Pacific Education Institute’s East Sound-South FieldSTEM coordinator in 2022 to connect our partners in King and southern Pierce counties to community-based science outdoors. Daniel has decades of experience volunteering with nonprofits and holds a Master of Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College.

Daniel brings PEI his experience working in environmental education and natural resource conservation, teaching youth about solid waste mitigation and urban ecological restoration with the Washington Department of Ecology. About working for PEI, Daniel states “building the scientific literacy of our citizens furthers the sustainable advancement of humanity while acknowledging our place in the ecosystem.”

Originally from Texas, Daniel resides in Tacoma where he serves on the Board for Tahoma Audubon Society. He enjoys reading, running, weight training, and singing to his cats.

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.

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.

Lara is an environmental educator, biologist, and artist who joined the PEI team in 2021. She is passionate about engaging youth with nature in ways which nurture community, identity, and a fierce sense of place. She has an extensive background in formal and informal environmental education, bringing over twenty years of experience teaching and designing environmental and sustainability programming in the Puget Sound and Chesapeake Bay regions. She also served as a backcountry guide for at-promise youth and was the founding director of K-12 Green Schools and STEM programs in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining PEI, she taught middle school environmental science in Olympia. Lara holds a BS in biology and an MS in molecular ecology. 

Outside of her work with PEI, Lara is an avid backpacker, skier, gardener, rockhound, folk artist, chicken herder, mountain lake swimmer, and dog mama. 

With PEI since mid-2019, Megan earned Bachelors Degrees in Chemistry and Biology from Central Washington University. As a certified teacher, she has taught in traditional and non-traditional public and private high schools and elementary settings, including helping migrant students graduate and helping K-4 Summer Literacy Camp students improve their reading. As a Science Fellow, Megan worked with ESD 105 and helped to lead workshops on implementing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and provided quality resources and support for local teachers. Megan also worked in the Pacific Science Center’s “Science on Wheels” program where she developed and delivered K¬-8 STEM curriculum to students across Washington State. She’s excited to dig into everything that PEI does to support our educators, communities, and environment!

Molly Griffiths became Pacific Education Institute’s West Sound FieldSTEM coordinator in 2020 to connect our partners in Kitsap County to community-based science outdoors. Molly 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.

Tressa Arbow became Pacific Education Institute’s East Sound-North FieldSTEM coordinator in 2020 to connect our partners in south Snohomish and north King counties to community-based science outdoors. Tressa has earned a Master of Marine and Environmental Affairs from the University of Washington and is a former Washington Sea Grant Hershman Marine Policy Fellow.

Tressa brings her experience as a marine researcher as well as a public-school teacher. Her passion for content integration led Tressa to work for PEI, stating “I know how tricky it can be to get students interested in content we’re mandated to teach. The FieldSTEM approach is an answer to that.”

Tressa resides in Seattle and cherishes outdoor time hiking, swimming, and exploring with her husband, two children, and dogs.

Education/Degree(s):
B.A. English & American Studies, University of Rochester
Master’s in Teaching, John Hopkins University

Area of Expertise: Thinking Skills, Habits of Mind, Integrated Curriculum, Literacy, Common Core ELA.

Education/Degree(s):

B.Sc. Geology and Zoology, Minor in Chemistry, University of Adelaide, South Australia

Masters in Public Health in Environmental Health & Community Health Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii 

Ph.D. in Urban Education: Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Science and Environmental Education, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Area of Expertise: Helping school districts integrate PEI’s “field investigation” models into their science inquiry programs, projects with a focus on wildlife issues, program evaluation and assessment of student learning in environmental education and education policy.

Education/Degree(s)

B.S. Biology, St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana

M.S. Forest Ecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Teaching Certification, Antioch University, Seattle, Washington

Areas of Expertise:  Developing and delivering science and environmental education professional development with an emphasis on investigations and engineering practices in the field. Co-developing integrated curriculum including Field Investigations; Drain Rangers; and Healthy Forests, Healthy Waters, schoolyard investigations and ELA performance tasks. Former member of the Washington Science Assessment Leadership Team developing, range finding, and reviewing test items for the state science exams. Pat received the Project Learning Tree Educator of the Year award in 2001 and the Project Learning Tree Gold Star award in 2015.

Currently residing in Vancouver, WA, Barbara has 30 years of workforce development experience in the state. Since serving as Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy at Centralia College, she was awarded Emeritus status there. Her board and committee service includes organizations such as Corporation for A Skilled Workforce; IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Community College Outreach; WA Joint Center for Deployment and Research in Earth Abundant Materials (JCDREAM); National Hydro Foundation; WA HB2227 Evergreen Jobs Leadership Team advising the Governor and Legislature on federal ARRA investments in clean energy; National Commission on Energy Policy’s Task Force on America’s Future Energy Jobs; U.S. Senate Democratic Policy Commission Green Jobs Roundtable; U.S. Department of Education delegation to Germany’s Global Sustainable Education Training and U.S. Canada Clean Energy Forums.

Randall James, a lifelong resident of Spokane, is the founder and was the director of the Institute of Science and Technology at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington. Mr. James earned his BS in Biology from the University of Oregon and his MS in Biology from Eastern Washington University. He was a public high school science teacher for thirty-nine years. Randall, winner of numerous national, regional, and state recognitions, has focused for the past twenty years on immersing students in authentic, novel research opportunities in the Institute. His primary research focus was Conservation Genetics and Molecular Ecology. He absolutely loves teaching his students of all ages and believes he has the best job in the world — being an educator. Randy firmly believes all of his students are YATOs, (You Are The One), and they will solve the world’s greatest challenges.

Residing in Olympia, Hattie is currently a classroom teacher in an alternative program. She has been working with PEI since July 2019. In addition to her work at PEI, Hattie has been a science kit master trainer for ESD 123, a member on several science working groups at OSPI and was a STEM teacher in the Pasco School District. Hattie has a passion for elementary science education, equity in science learning and diving deep into the Next Generation Science Standards. Hattie is excited to continue providing professional learning opportunities to teachers of Washington state that want to connect their students to the environment and community through real-world science learning!