We build connections for schools to local business, industry, & community organizations for real-world learning opportunities.

FieldSTEM Celebration

2024

Join PEI’s 2024 FieldSTEM Celebration this September to celebrate the people and organizations bringing FieldSTEM to life throughout our state.

 

When: Thursday, September 26th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Where: Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave., Lacey

What: Dinner, awards ceremony, silent auction, activities and celebration!

Register here

 

In 2024, we recognize the following individuals and organizations who have supported our FieldSTEM work in this last year and beyond:

FieldSTEM Teacher of the Year

Robin Driver, Eisenhower High School, Yakima SD

 

The 2024 FieldSTEM Teacher of the Year is Robin Driver of Eisenhower High School. For the past three years, Robin has been the lead teacher for PEI’s Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) program, a six-week opportunity during the summer for students to earn high school credit and a stipend while gaining ecological restoration skills. Yakima School District is one of the earliest adapters of this program, with Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group as their main partner.

“Robin is always thinking ahead toward the next step,” says PEI’s Green Jobs Coordinator Chelsea Trout. “This program is something she puts her whole self into. She’s great with her students and it helps to work with someone who sees this as a passion project. She is also someone we look to for help with other workshops.”

 

FieldSTEM School of the Year

Ida Nason Aronica Elementary, Ellensburg SD

Ida Nason Aronica Elementary School was intentionally designed for outdoor learning with input from a broad swath of community members, including students. “Our community really came together,” says former Principal Joanne Duncan. “Kids drew picture of what a day at school would look like, and they wanted outdoor time.”  

Teachers at Ida Nason strive to embody the qualities they want students to learn like flexibility, curiosity, and resilience. “Those are core values that we try to model every day,” says Duncan. “We emphasized that it’s okay to try something and it’s also okay if it doesn’t work. The staff really embraced that. We know that as we learn, the students learn.”

Ida Nason has implemented place-based outdoor learning across grade levels with support from PEI coordinators and materials. Their campus includes a pocket forest, pond, school garden and multiple spaces for students to sit and explore nature.

 

FieldSTEM District of the Year

Tumwater School District, Tumwater

PEI celebrates Tumwater School District’s commitment to getting every student outdoors for field-based, career-connected learning. The district may hold the record for the most community partners engaged, especially if we include their Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) program. K-12 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 regional college.

This is a beautiful example of FieldSTEM in action with teachers leading the charge with full administrative support.

 

FieldSTEM Community Collaborator of the Year

Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group 

Collaboration is key at MCFEG. They coordinate efforts to protect and restore wild fish populations and habitat with state and federal agencies, tribes, local conservation organizations and more. Education is also an essential aspect of their work and they have been a strong partner of PEI’s YESS program from the beginning.

“MCFEG is the main community partner for our Yakima YESS program,” says Green Jobs Coordinator Chelsea Trout. “They are great to work with because their YESS program is nearly self-sustaining with little support from PEI, and considerable support from existing relationships with other agencies and organizations. They are great team players, year-round, always looking to expand.”

 

FieldSTEM Legislator of the Year

Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way

Representative Reeves is a working mom, former foster youth, and small business owner who advocates for working families, educators, veterans, and building an economy that works best for all of us. Outside of the Legislature, Reeves is a community & economic development, equity & inclusion, and organizational development consultant.

 

 

FieldSTEM Champion

Mark Doumit, Washington Forest Protection Association

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 become to lead the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) as executive director. In that role, he advocated for private forest landowners who manage 4 million acres of woodlands. When he passed away unexpectedly in 2021, it wasn’t just his accomplishments people spoke about; it was his warmth, humor, generosity of spirit, and down to earth approach to the often dry world of legislation

But many may not realize that he also played a central role in PEI’s founding, recognizing the importance of education in protecting forests in future generations.

FieldSTEM 2024 Sponsors

Main Event Sponsors

 

Table Sponsors 

 

Event Sponsors 

Partner with PEI

We build community connections between schools, local organizations, agencies and the natural resources industries of our state. These connections give students a chance to build a sense of place, explore local career opportunities and develop the critical thinking skills needed for our next generation of decision-makers who will consider ecosystems, community and economic tradeoffs.

We also empower teachers to embed career connected learning into their classroom units and create opportunities for students to engage in field-based science and engineering. When community partners work with PEI and teachers, they help create awareness of promising jobs in the community and clarify the types of skills a student needs to be hired. Career connected learning helps students plan for a successful future and it helps local businesses look forward to a skilled and inspired workforce. A win-win for communities!

Connect with Us

If you would like to talk with us about collaborating to bring locally relevant, career connected, outdoor STEM learning in your region, please contact us.

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