The Guidelines Trainers' Bureau consists of environmental educators who are prepared to give presentations to a variety of audiences on the Guidelines and how they can be used.
For more information about the Guidelines Trainer's Bureau and how you might schedule a presentation or workshop in your area, contact Bora Simmons, borasimmons@gmail.com.
Billy Bennett is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC). Before his appointment, he was the Director of the Center for Environmental Education and part-time faculty in the College of Education at Eastern Kentucky University. Currently he also serves as vice-president of the Kentucky Society of Natural History. Billy also served as the Chair and Vice-chair of the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) and the Kentucky College and University Partnership for Environmental Education (KCUPEE). Through collaboration with KAEE and KCUPEE, he promotes the use of environment-based education across the curriculum areas. His agency, in partnership with KAEE, oversees the operation of the Environmental Education Leadership Corps which places AmeriCorps members with EE nonprofits and government agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Billy holds a Bachelor’s in Middle School Education, Teaching (2004), a Master's in Secondary Education, Teaching (2006) and a Master's in Elementary Education (2008) at Eastern Kentucky University. He holds a Rank 1 Teaching certificate for 5-8th grade Science/Social Studies, as well as 8-12th grade Earth Science, and has an Endorsement for Environmental Education grades K-12. Also, he is a certified master environmental educator through the Kentucky Environmental Education Council.
His professional affiliations include the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE), The Kentucky Science Teachers Association (KSTA), the Kentucky Chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC KY), the Kentucky Society of Natural History (KSNH), and the National Science Teachers Association. He is also a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA).
The Project
This project proposes an innovative gardening idea that uses education to help to address a community environmental issue. Community members (specifically seniors and children) will take part in attending classes and I will teach them about nutrition, healthy living through gardening, and entrepreneurship. As a result of the training they receive, the participants will grow and eat nutritious vegetables and fruits and learn how to sustain themselves financially!
Goal
Serve seniors and children from underserved communities and individuals that live in food deserts with classes and hands on experiences that will help them achieve a more equitable and sustainable future for themselves.
Project Outcomes
Like many environmentalists, Eileen (she/her) finds solace in getting outside. Hiking and bird watching are two of her interests. No agenda? No problem! That’s part of the fun. Eileen would love to visit the Patagonia region of South America one day, but she also loves exploring the wild parts of her home state, Michigan.
Eileen works as the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). She brings with her years of cross-boundary work connecting science and governmental organizations with the public and is excited to share her experience facilitating multi-stakeholder community partnerships with others in the Fellowship. Eileen holds a BS in Environmental Biology from Cornerstone University and MS in Environmental Studies with an Environmental Communication emphasis from Green Mountain College. She’s a veteran public speaker, grant writer, and written word…
A former Chicago Public School Teacher, Laura moved to Kansas about 25 years ago and continued teaching K-8 students. In 1998, Laura was fortunate to join the staff with the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) and in 2000 became the Executive Director for the organization. KACEE is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization with the mission of promoting and providing quality, non-biased and science-based conservation and environmental education for all Kansans. Laura currently sits on the steering committee for the Affiliate Network of NAAEE, the Educational Operating Committee with PLT, and is active with the National Science Teachers Association. She holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Administration and Supervision and a Doctorate from Kansas State in Curriculum and Instruction for Math, Science and Technology.
Sarah Johnson is the founder of Wild Rose Education, an innovative environmental education business providing place-based, learner-centered educator workshop, youth leadership programming and environmental education consulting. Sarah earned her Master of Arts in Education: Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University. Her graduate research involved case studies of science teacher professional development programs at biological field stations across the country. Sarah works to advance environmental education, interpretation, and place based learning while creating authentic and relevant experiences connecting people to their place to ultimately develop a personal land and water ethic. Her contagious passion for working with other professionals to inspire innovative education practices while also building strong relationships across the field exemplifies her capacity for leadership.
Sarah's expertise includes best practices in watershed education, adult learning and facilitation, and interpretation. She serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. She is a member of the NAAEE Guidelines Trainers' Bureau, an Environmental Issues Forums deliberation moderator, Certified Interpretive Guide, Certified Interpretive Trainer, Colorado Certified Master Environmental Educator, Land Ethic Leader, Leave No Trace Master Educator, Climate Reality Leader, and Wilderness First Responder. Sarah is currently based in the Crystal River Watershed in Carbondale, Colorado.
Gustavo grew up in Southeastern Brazil, inspired by nature on his grandparents’ farm. His passion for nature motivated him to become a field biologist and led him to a career path in academic research and higher education. Gustavo dedicated over 15 years to help college students connect their curiosity about nature to science, guiding them through the transformative path of critical thinking. He believes that such transformation, however, should not be restricted to colleges, but accessible to everyone.
In 2018, Gustavo chose Connecticut to be his new home, and non-formal science education and outreach to be his new career. He currently serves on the Board of the NAAEE affiliate in Connecticut (CT Outdoor & Environmental Education Association) and has been supporting outdoor education as the perfect format to stimulate kids’ and adults’ curiosity about nature and connect them to science.
In 2020, Gustavo joined the Neighborhood Leadership Program from the Community Foundation for the Greater New Haven. Inspired by the stories and actions of so many community leaders, Gustavo decided to found the Science Yourself initiative as a way to celebrate, connect, and support professionals and community members that value science literacy, critical thinking, and science-based programs in the Greater New Haven area and across Connecticut.
Elizabeth Schmitz is the Environmental and Sustainability Education Program Manager in Science, Environment, and Sustainability/Learning and Teaching at Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. In this role, she supports administration of Washington’s $10 million climate science professional development Proviso, ClimeTime. She oversees implementation of the Washington Green Ribbon Schools program, the Washington Environmental and Sustainability K-12 Learning Standards, and the Washington Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan. Elizabeth is thrilled to offer her support to teachers, schools, and school districts as they implement environmental and sustainability education efforts!
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Elizabeth graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Geography/Minor Environmental Studies. After two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Portland, she taught at Outdoor School programs housed on salmon spawning streams.
After completing a Master of Science degree from the Geoscience program at Western Kentucky University, Elizabeth served state government in multiple roles. At the Kentucky Division for Air Quality, she was an environmental education specialist from 2004-2009. She also worked on climate change issues as an Internal Policy Analyst III (2009-2010). Elizabeth served as the executive director of the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC), in the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, from 2010-2016. KEEC houses the Commonwealth’s Green and Healthy Schools program, Professional Environmental Educator Certification program, and the Kentucky Environmental Literacy Plan. Elizabeth earned her Professional Environmental Educator Certification (PEEC) from KEEC in 2006, and currently holds the Master level certification from KEEC’s PEEC program, which was accredited by NAAEE while she was the executive director.
In late 2016, Elizabeth and her husband returned to the Pacific Northwest. Elizabeth took the helm at the Sauvie Island Center, an organic agricultural education nonprofit in Oregon. Circumstances dictated a move to Washington state, and in 2018 Elizabeth became a paraeducator at Olympic View Elementary School, “One of my favorite jobs since teaching at outdoor school; it was such fun connecting with kids again. I enjoyed supporting below-grade level readers in the Learning Assistance Program.”
Renee Strnad is the Environmental Educator for Extension Forestry, housed in the
College of Natural Resources at NC State University. She is the state coordinator for Project Learning Tree, has responsibilities for 4-H natural resource
programming statewide, and is a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator.
She has served on the board of Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC), the state’s NAAEE affiliate, and continues to serve on various committees for the organization, as well as the NAAEE Affiliate Network Steering Committee. She also works closely with the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education by serving on the Certification Committee and Environmental Literacy Plan Committee. Being at NC State University has allowed her to work with faculty with a growing interest in EE research, and she is helping pilot courses that will hopefully be key for the creation of a university-wide EE minor for students in any discipline.
Renee was awarded the Governor’s Award for Environmental Education from the NC Wildlife Federation in 2010, Project Learning Tree’s Gold Star Award in 2013, and the EENC’s Melva Fager Okun Lifetime Achievement award in 2014. She completed her Masters degree in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University in 2015. In her free time, she enjoys traveling (just one more state to go!), gardening, exploring, relaxing in her hammock, and spending time with family and friends.
Melissa was responsible for managing NAAEE’s international programming-- most notably through the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), a learning network designed to build capacity of environmental education professionals and organizations around the world. Melissa has more than 20 years of experience in conservation, education, evaluation, and fundraising.
Prior to NAAEE, she directed Audubon’s Together TogetherGreen program, a $25 million partnership between Audubon and Toyota that worked to build community conservation efforts and strengthen and diversify environmental leadership across the U.S. Prior to Audubon, she worked at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum, where she developed science education curriculum and initiated the organization’s first comprehensive evaluation of its programs, and American Rivers, where she was responsible for managing the organization’s foundation portfolio. Melissa has a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College and an M.S. from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment, with a focus in environmental education and psychology. Melissa is based in Washington, D.C.
