Staff

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.

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. She has launched and developed student sustainability, leadership, mentorship, career preparation, and international courses and programs.

Prior to joining PEI, Heather worked at Central Washington University’s School of Education, Portland State University (PSU), non-profits, industry, and government agencies. She serves in advisory capacities for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) Sustainability Knowledge Community. Previously, she served as Board President for a Regional Centre for Expertise through United Nations University that focused on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Heather completed her M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy and B.S. in General Science at PSU. She also completed a Permaculture and Whole Systems Design Certificate with Toby Hemenway.

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

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.

Lauren has taught middle and high school science for over a decade. She is passionate about equity in science education, the ecological beauty of the Salish Sea and all its creatures, and collaborating with fellow educators and community partners to create opportunities for outdoor STEM and career-connected learning. Lauren believes that the natural world has so much to teach us and can ground us in a way that is crucial for our wellbeing. Please reach out if you want to collaborate and plan amazing FieldSTEM experiences for your students in the South Puget Sound area!

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.

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.