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. 

Before joining PEI, Gail worked for various local nonprofits in positions ranging from Office Manager to Department Director in Administration & Finance. As PEI’s Finance and HR Director, she is responsible for managing all aspects of finance and business operations, including accounts payable and receivable, budget, accounting and financial reporting, grant management, human resources, employee benefits, payroll, and risk management and compliance. She enjoys the range of duties required in a small nonprofit and the ability to learn many different aspects of nonprofit management. She is also grateful for the opportunity to work for an organization with a positive mission that impacts the teachers and students of Washington State. Gail is half Puerto Rican and a proud descendent of the Nisqually and Colville Tribes. When not at PEI, she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, camping and completing home remodeling projects.

Lauren has been with PEI for the last 2.5 years. Prior to that, she spent the better part of 12 years in fundraising and development for nonprofit organizations in Illinois and Washington State. She has led development, event planning, and grant writing for organizations of all sizes, including the Mercy Health System of Chicago. She also served as a development and grant writing consultant for a wide range of organizations throughout Western Washington for several years during that time. Originally from Dallas, she has a BA in English from the University of Texas at Austin.

Nicole George was born in Juneau, Alaska. Throughout her life, she has been an advocate and educator for her people and the environment. She is a member of the Deisheetaan (Beaver) Clan, Raven moiety of the Angoon Tlingit Nation, and for several years has worked with many Native organizations in Juneau, Alaska, in a variety of educational capacities. In 2016, she received a BA in environmental studies from Pacific University. She then came to Olympia to earn her Master of Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College in 2018. Nicole has worked for the Native Lands and Resource Department of Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Douglas Indian Association, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Sealaska. She joined the PEI team in October of 2018 as the new Program Coordinator and is excited to continue her work as an advocate for the environment and educators in the Pacific Northwest.

Eleanor has 10 years of experience applying her expertise in written communication in a variety of professional settings, including as a freelance editor, an English language educator both domestically and overseas, and as an office manager in Costa Rica where she handled all marketing and client communication for a local financial firm. She holds a BA in English and brings her passion for and understanding of English to all facets of PEI communications—newsletters, e-blasts, social media communication, and other web- and print-based channels. Eleanor believes strongly in supporting teachers and bringing high-quality education to all students. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to both endeavors at PEI.

An Olympia native, Henry graduated from Pacific Lutheran University’s International Honors Program in 2016 with a degree in communications and environmental studies. After graduation, he worked and camped as an AmeriCorps volunteer in backcountry areas in Mount Rainier National Park and spent one year working for the Nisqually Land Trust. When he’s not at work, Henry enjoys hiking, doing forage fish surveys, playing basketball, and going to museums. He’s excited to advance equitable environmental education in Washington State to promote a more sustainable future for the land, waterways, and people on both sides of the Cascades.

With PEI since 2016, Julie coordinates and facilitates teacher professional development workshops in three educational service districts. Her work includes recruiting schools to participate in FieldSTEM opportunities; coordinating with school administrators, teachers, PEI faculty, and regional community partners to enhance teacher professional development and share resources with teachers; creating tools for teachers using current educational initiatives; providing ongoing support to teachers who have participated in PEI workshops; and more. Prior to working with PEI, Julie served as the Environmental Education Specialist for Cape Disappointment State Park. She earned a BA in recreation management from Western Washington University.

With PEI since early 2017, Mike received his teaching degree at Pacific Lutheran University and began his teaching career in California. He later spent time in Aberdeen before returning to his hometown of Spokane. He comes to PEI with an extensive background in teaching middle and high school English, photography, and publications and as a Career and Technical Education Administrator for the Spokane School District.

With PEI since 2017, Jessica holds a BA in archaeology, geology, and Native American studies and a post-baccalaureate teaching degree specializing in middle school math and science from Western Washington University. Having started her career at the Department of Transportation in the Environmental Affairs office, where she specialized in cultural resource management, she later taught middle school science in San Bernardino, CA, where she trained with the Center for Disease Control to promote public health programs in the community. Eventually, she returned to the Puget Sound and taught junior high science in Puyallup for ten years, where she also developed and piloted new field investigation courses.

Before joining PEI in 2017, Chad spent 13 years teaching 8th grade and serving as the elementary science specialist for public and private schools throughout Washington State. In recent years, he has helped to lead faculty workshops on the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Chad also worked for two years in the Pacific Science Center’s “Science on Wheels” program, where he led teacher training on inquiry-­based science and project­-based learning, and developed and delivered K­-8 STEM curriculum to students across the state.

Education/Degree(s)
B.S. Biology, St. Mary’s College
M.S. Forest Ecology, University of Michigan                                                                  Teaching Certification, Antioch University

Area of Expertise: Developing and delivering science and environmental education professional development with an emphasis on investigations and engineering practices in the field.

Education/Degree(s)
B.S. Biology, University of California at Davis

Area of Expertise: K-12 Literacy, Curriculum Integration and Design, Environmental Sustainability Education systemic program and implementation planning

Education/Degree(s)
B.S. Biology, Washington State University
Master’s in Science Education, Western Washington University

Area of Expertise: Laura joined PEI’s faculty in July 2018 as an education and climate literacy lead on the project “Locally Relevant 3-D Climate Science for Drawdown.”

Education/Degree(s)
B.S. Biology, Washington State University
Master’s in Science Education, Western Washington University

Area of Expertise: Karen supports the PEI’s West Sound GreenSTEM Network, known for its annual GreenSTEM Summit, when students from around the West Sound gather to share their work on behalf of the environment.

Education/Degree(s)
B.S. Biology, University of Washington
Master’s in Teaching, University of Washington

Area of Expertise: Designing and delivering K-12 science and engineering professional development that focuses on instruction and equitable practices.

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.