Meet the cohort of teachers from around the country participating in 2019 Climate Connections!For more information about this traveling teacher professional development workshop, click here! 
Lacey HoosierMy name is Lacey Hoosier and I am a 13-year science teacher from central Louisiana. I teach college classes at the high school level that include: Fundamentals of Biology, STEM, Physics, AP Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology. I have 18 animals in my relaxed classroom at Buckeye High School. My passion is hands-on learning and my goal is to ignite a passion in students for environmental conservation and animal rehabilitation. In addition to teaching science, I am a wife of 15 years and a mother of 3 kids; Gabe a 14 year old freshman, Canaan a 13 year old 7th grader, and Sarai a 4 year old pre-K student. I absolutely love to travel all over the world, take photos of nature scenes and living organisms, read fiction novels, listen to music, and spend time outdoors.
Dina DiSantisHi, my name is Dina DiSantis, and I teach AP Environmental Science and Biology at the Downingtown High School, West Campus in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. I also teach an Environmental Biology course at the Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. In my spare time I like mountain biking, hiking and camping with my husband and daughter. I was born in Pennsylvania and have spent most of my life living here; with the exception of a period of time when I actually lived in Ashland, Oregon and worked for the Bureau of Land Management. I have family in Oregon and consider it my home away from home. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and can’t wait for this awesome educational experience and adventure.
Bethany HenshawHello People! I'm Bethany Henshaw and I'm a High School Drawing and Painting teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I love outdoor adventures and am excited to learn more about climate change so I can infuse science into some of my curriculum. Looking forward to meeting all ofyou! 
Scott RogersI work at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center, our state’s maximum security prison. I teach the core subjects for the Adult Secondary Education program to prepare our general population inmates to earn their GED credential. The GED test has gotten significantly more difficult over the past few years, so I am grateful for the opportunity to improve my Science repertoire. Prior to this, I taught seventh grade World Geography and eighth grade American History for 12 years. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, travelling, camping, skiing, hanging out with my nephews and working on renovations around my house. I am excited to get to visit Oregon for the first time and I look forward to meeting everyone in July!
Morgan PestoriusMorgan is the K-8 Gifted and Talented teacher for Watchung Schools in New Jersey. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, where she majored in Elementary Education and iSTEM, and minored in Environmental Sustainability Education. Morgan is a passionate tree-hugger and runs the Environmental Club at her school. This year, the Valley View Environmental Club purchased three Tower Gardens for indoor growing and hosted a school "trashion" show to teach students about the environmental impact of the fashion industry. When she is not teaching, Morgan spends most of her free time baking, reading, traveling, and playing with her dogs. Morgan is thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in Climate Connections this year and is eager to bring what she learns back to New Jersey."
Laura MosbacherHello! I am a middle school science teacher from the Sacramento area in California. I love being able to bring my enthusiasm for the natural world into the classroom students appreciate it too. I look forward to exploring the northern California and southern Oregon national parks to fuel that enthusiasm. Outside the classroom, I am a fairly active person. I enjoy backpacking and running and I have enjoyed coaching my school's cross country and track teams. I also love spending time with my wonderful family and friends that I am blessed to have in my life.
Samantha McMillanI teach 5th-8th grade Social Studies and an Engineering Elective at a small, public STEM school in San Jose, California. As a recent California Naturalist graduate, I enjoy participating in citizen scientist opportunities and learning more about the outdoors. This is my ninth year teaching and I enjoy bringing environmental education into my classroom.
Graduate Intern/Guide: Emily LindEmily was born and raised in the land of snow, beer, and cheese. Wisconsin! She came to Oregon to study environmental education at Southern Oregon University. Emily believes in lifelong learning, and wants to connect people of all ages to the natural world through birds, science, and storytelling. Emily’s favorite hobbies are birding, hiking with her fiancé and dog, and sitting around the campfire. She is looking forward to discussions around climate change and how to effectively communicate the science to others.
Graduate Intern/Guide: Emily OlsenEmily Olsen is an adventurous, friendly, outgoing native Pacific Northwesterner spending her childhood around the Puget Sound in Washington and her young adulthood in the suburbs of Portland. She graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in General Biology. During her senior year as an undergraduate she was a part of an Outdoor Education class and it really sparked a love for sharing the natural world with children (and adults) and she has been pursuing a career in the field ever since. She is currently obtaining a M.S. in Environmental Education and a M.A. in Teaching from Southern Oregon University. Her passions are conservation, science education, and going on adventures outside in nature. Hiking and anything involving the water are her favorites. She loves to share her passions with others to help foster connections between people and the world around them. |
Last updated: July 31, 2019