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FieldSTEM Celebration: Friday, October 6, 2023 – Registration now open!

Each year at our annual FieldSTEM Celebration, PEI recognizes individuals and organizations that exemplify our vision of promoting scientific literacy and civic engagement by empowering people to make balanced, well-informed decisions for just and sustainable communities. We work with many individuals from key areas: educators, community partners, schools, school districts, elected officials, workforce professionals, natural resource employers, academic experts and education policy makers.

This year, we are excited to recognize some amazing individuals and organizations who have supported our FieldSTEM work in this last year and beyond:

Teacher of the Year: Jordan Duncan, Orin Smith Elementary, Chehalis SD
School of the Year: South Whidbey Elementary, South Whidbey SD
District of the Year: Cascade School District
Community Partner of the Year: Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
Legislators of the Year:
- Senator Shelly Short, District 7
- Representative Kristine Reeves, District 30
FieldSTEM Champion: Nancy Skerritt, PEI Faculty and Consultant

If you have attended previous FieldSTEM Celebrations with us, then you will be excited to hear that we are going a little bigger with our celebration this year. In addition to recognizing all the amazing FieldSTEM Honorees, PEI is celebrating our 20 year anniversary! Some of the fun additional activities will include:

a buffet dinner,
a silent auction for you to peruse and place biddings,
a dessert dash,
a live band with dancing,
and more!

We hope you come for the celebration and stay for the party! Register Here!

2022

Dale Sweet

Teacher of the Year

Riverview School District

District of the Year

Katie Kosanke, Urban Forester, City of Spokane

Community Collaborator of the Year

Waskowitz Environmental Leadership and Service (WELS)

School of the Year

Rep. Alicia Rule (District 42)

Legislator of the Year

Rep. Alex Ybarra (District 13)

Legislator of the Year

Lynne Ferguson (PEI Executive Director, 2003-2010)

Champion of the Year

2021

Katie Standlea

Teacher of the Year

Thorp School District

District of the Year

Rayonier

Community Collaborator of the Year

On Track Academy

School of the Year

Senator Judy Warnick

Legislator of the Year

Rep. Sharon Shewmake

Legislator of the Year

Dr. Ellen Ebert, OSPI

Champion of the Year

2020

Due to the pandemic, the 2020 celebration was canceled, so those award winners were also recognized at the 2021 FieldSTEM Celebration.

John Hunter

Teacher of the Year

Puyallup School District

District of the Year

Capitol Land Trust

Community Collaborator of the Year

Valley

School of the Year

Rep. Jesse Johnson

Legislator of the Year

Rep. Mike Steele

Legislator of the Year

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.