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THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY NOVEMBER 9 NOVEMBER 10 NOVEMBER 11
8:00 am – 8:30 am 7:00 am– 8:00 am 7:00 am – 8:00 am Registration Registration Registration 2nd Floor Piano Lounge 2nd Floor Piano Lounge 2nd Floor Piano Lounge Breakfast Breakfast 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Grand Ballroom Grand Ballroom Traveling Dialogue Day in Detroit (Optional) 8:00 am – 8:45 am 8:00 am – 8:45 am Keynote: Dr. Rosanne Fortner Keynote: Julia Putnam 12:30 pm – 6:00 pm Registration 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 2nd Floor Piano Lounge Conference Sessions & Workshops Conference Sessions & Workshops Traveling Dialogue: Ypsilanti’s Black 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm History (Optional) 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Traveling Dialogue: History of Lunch Eastern Michigan University 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Grand Ballroom (Optional) Lunch Grand Ballroom 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Conference Reflection Welcoming & Networking Reception 1:45 pm – 4:30 pm Grand Ballroom ABC Microbrewery Conference Sessions & Workshops 720 Norris Street, Ypsilanti Traveling Dialogue: Divisions in the Ypsilanti Landscape (Optional)
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Conference Banquet Grand Ballroom 6:00 pm Cocktail Time 6:30 pm Dinner starts 7:00 pm Keynote: Dr. Carolyn Finney 8:00 pm Dragonfly Award Ceremony
This year’s conference is co-hosted by Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, a regional hub of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. SESSION Friday 1 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM The Process of Reflection in Place-based Education history of African-American Ypsilanti. We will explore (Forum) | ROOM 208 Auditorium Ypsilanti’s south side, where we will see historic homes, Reflection about learning, experience, and growth are churches, schools, and social halls. We will see the critical to ensure that students get the most out of their impact of urban renewal and the highway system, and work in place-based education. Join us for thought- explore the continuing costs of environmental racism ful, fun, and engaging ways to support your students and the social divisions in our landscape that have been in reflection. Sarah Coleman and Erica Johnson (West formed and reformed over time. Matt Siegfried, Historian Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, Muskegon (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition) Regional Math Science Center). Student Voice, Agency and Identity in Learning | ROOM 310A NOAA Great Lakes Bay-Watershed Education and (3 Hour Workshop) Training Program Highlights | ROOM 300 This presentation will summarize the findings of Be inspired by some of the most exciting place-based participatory action research across three unique sites education programs around the region in this session in Michigan. During the workshop, participants will highlighting the current NOAA Great Lakes Bay- explore identity and agency in learning as it relates to Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program Delpit’s assertion that “the teacher cannot be the only grantees. Learn how NOAA and the Great Lakes expert in the classroom. To deny students their own Restoration Initiative is supporting innovative programs expert knowledge is to disempower them.” (1988, p. that engender partnerships, support stewardship, 19). Participants will explore participatory structures impart knowledge, and inspire teachers and students and techniques (i.e., design thinking) and their impacts through year-round Meaningful Watershed Educational on adults and students. Simeon Frang (Orchard View Experiences (MWEEs) about the Great Lakes watershed. Schools) and Judy Walton (Forrest Hills Schools) Two back-to-back sessions feature 10 of the 11 grantees in the current cohort of projects around the Great Phenomenal Science: An Exploration of Place-based Lakes. Is your organization ready to B-WET? Come K-5 Units | ROOM 310B test the waters. Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Ryan Feldbrugge (The Rivers2Lake Phenomenal Science is a complete elementary science Program at the Lake Superior National Estuarine curriculum designed to facilitate three-dimensional Research Reserve), Yu Man Lee (Michigan Natural science instruction aligned to the Michigan Science Features Inventory, MSU Extension), Cora Lee-Palmer Standards. Participants will learn about place-based (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District) and Jeanie units along with the needs met for elementary schools, Williams (Inland Seas Education Association). teachers and students through use of the units and ongoing needs for professional learning to ensure proper implementation of three-dimensional curriculum as called Ypsilanti’s Black History for by the Michigan Science Standards. Opportunities for Traveling Dialogue (Pre-registration Required) involvement in the Phenomenal Science project will be ROOM 302 shared. Darcy McMahon, Matthew Samocki and Jennel Between roughly the Civil War and World War I, Ypsilanti Martin-Powell (Central Michigan Science, Mathematics had the highest percentage of African-Americans of any and Technology Center at CMU). Michigan city. We will take a bus tour to look at the rich
This year’s conference is co-hosted by Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, a regional hub of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. Community History Inspired Art Education: Ypsilanti From One to Many: The Exponential Growth of African American Mural Project | ROOM 320 Place-based Stewardship Education in an Urban Learn how a classroom art project expanded into the School | ROOM 350 community bringing the Visual Arts curriculum alive and Saving mallard ducks began the journey for one teacher connecting to community history through the painting in an urban school in Flint. This launched a multi-year of murals based on H. P. Jacobs, the Women of Ypsilanti, journey that evolved into a cross-curricular collaboration the Underground Railroad, and local farmers, farming involving all middle school students. This session will and agriculture. You will hear from youth about the true highlight how teachers and community organizations power of the arts, the important impact of meaningful became involved, active participants in this place-based teacher-student relationships, and the amazing things stewardship education effort, that allowed students to that happen when the bridge is built between schools become key stakeholders, advocates and active partners and communities! Lynne Settles, Cieara Freeman, in advancing the city’s green infrastructure goals. Kim Maximilian Harper, Iyana Morgan and Bennie Williams Hatfield (Flint Southwestern Classical Academy) (Ypsilanti Community High School).
Starting a Meaningful Math Place-based Education When Kids Go to City Hall: Design Thinking as a Unit | ROOM 352 Vehicle for Change (2 Hour Workshop) | ROOM 330 This session presents three ways to make meaningful At the crossroads of place-based education and local place-based learning units for mathematics, and activism, lies design thinking. As children encounter specifically covers how to create a place-based education the history and present state of their community, they unit that will juggle the three specific hang-ups that grow to care for it. They may seek to improve it. Using math teachers have: time, standards, and authenticity. the design thinking model, follow the journey preK-3rd This will be especially relevant to anyone who often graders took to make connections in their community hears the phrase “except in math” when it comes to and work to change it. From brainstorming to speaking place-based education implementation. Andrew Russo at City Hall, students can use a place-based model for (Former teacher and SE Michigan Stewardship Coalition social action. Brandi Cartwright (Raintree School) Staff – Eastern Michigan University) and Jessica Krueger (Ypsilanti Community Schools) SESSION Friday 2 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Doing the Thing: Challenges and Rewards of Creating the idea of protecting natural resources was not a Experiential Professional Learning Environments in priority. The heart and soul of the discipline and field Place-based Learning (Forum) | ROOM 208 Auditorium of study was really defined by one prophetic individual, Amy Demarest, author of the book Place-Based Aldo Leopold. Seventy years after his death his words Curriculum Design, and Ethan Lowenstein, Director are as relevant as ever and provide the greater goal of of the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, having a land ethic that guides how we live on this earth. will discuss why and how to create powerful learning Rebecca Marquardt ( Revery) environments in place-based education for teachers that go beyond typical “professional development.” Amy and How Do Youth Leaders Define Youth Leadership? Ethan will introduce thinking tools and strategies to help ROOM 320 participants think deeply about professional learning designs in place-based education and lead participants This presentation is a conversation between 8th grade in activities that will help them apply new learnings students and their school principal in an attempt to to their own practice. Amy Demarest (Our Curriculum understand what youth leadership means to the young Matters) and Dr. Ethan Lowenstein (Southeast Michigan people who are asked to demonstrate this skill. This will Stewardship Coalition) be the Principal presenting her wonderings and asking students to guide her thinking: What makes young people feel like leaders? Where and when do they NOAA Great Lakes Bay-Watershed Education and believe their leadership is needed? How is the school Training Program Highlights | ROOM 300 promoting (or not) the leadership skills and leadership Be inspired by some of the most exciting place-based opportunities students feel they need and as it pertains education programs around the region in this session to leadership as they perceive it? What are the barriers highlighting the current NOAA Great Lakes Bay- and constraints to true youth leadership? How are adults Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program getting in the way? How can we be better advocates for grantees. Learn how NOAA and the Great Lakes youth? Through this conversation, we hope to model Restoration Initiative is supporting innovative programs how to grapple with the contradictions and possibilities that engender partnerships, support stewardship, of shared leadership in an intergenerational setting. impart knowledge, and inspire teachers and students Julia Putnam, Ajani DeFreece, Kamari Ray, Zora Kuu through year-round Meaningful Watershed Educational Flournery, Diondre Hunter and Sharon Johnson (The Experiences (MWEEs) about the Great Lakes watershed. James and Grace Lee Boggs School). Two back-to-back sessions feature 10 of the 11 grantees in the current cohort of projects around the Great Understanding Observation: A Lesson in Play-Doh Lakes. Is your organization ready to B-WET? Come (2 Hour Workshop) | ROOM 350 test the waters. Rebecca Nielsen (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition), Katie Larson (Alliance for the Any observation is shaped and informed by the Great Lakes), Matthew Kadow (Wisconsin Maritime subjectivity of the observer. If pre-service teachers are Museum), Erica Johnson and Sarah Coleman (Muskegon to not only learn about place, but also learn from and Area ISD) and David S. Karpovich (Saginaw Bay be transformed by place, then it is imperative for them Environmental Science Institute at Saginaw Valley State to explore and interrogate their subjectivities. In this University). workshop the presenters will guide participants through an interactive, hands-on activity designed to introduce pre-service teachers to the art of careful observation and A Land Ethic & Ecosystem Services: How Land the concept of subjectivity. Suzanne Knight and Jing Fu Conservation Has Evolved | ROOM 310B (University of Michigan-Flint) Land conservation and stewardship have evolved to include design standards for protecting and enhancing Engaging High School Students in Authentic the benefits nature provides that are considered Ecological Research | ROOM 352 ecosystem services. But, while many decision makers now embrace the value that ecosystem services provide, Despite today’s science curricula demanding real- it’s important for students to understand that historically world inquiry-type lessons and experiences, many teachers are unprepared to hand the reigns over to their students, who lack a full understanding of the process of science and outdoor research experience. Hence the development of the Houghton High School Forest Research Program where students build authentic science research projects from the ground up, becoming intimate with the ecology of their surroundings and valuing and taking ownership of their place! Lauri Davis (Houghton High School) SESSION Friday 3 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Understanding the Urban Watershed: Locally-sourced Nathan Ayers (Founder/Director – We Are The Forest), Watershed Education Works | ROOM 208 Auditorium Jessica Kreuger (Ypsilanti Community Schools), Chris Learn how Philadelphia’s public water utility is leading Swinko, Clara Freeth and Eliza Braunschneider (Summers- the way in watershed education. The Fairmount Water Knoll School), Sakinah and Zakiyyah Rahman (Eastern Works, the Education Center of the Philadelphia Water Michigan University). Department, will share a new middle years curriculum developed by classroom teachers. It connects students Amazing Field Trips | ROOM 330 with a local watershed experience through hands-on, experiential learning—in the classroom, the schoolyard, Explore how to create, deliver and experience amazing the neighborhood and even local waterways when field trips. Discover how to make your field trips promote possible. See how Philadelphia teachers along with curiosity and wonder and change how kids see and their students are becoming responsible environmental interact with our world. Gain new knowledge about field stewards. Ellen Freedman Schultz (Fairmount Water trips and tools to make your field trips amazing. Norm Works Interpretive Center) Lownds (Michigan State University)
Practicing Mindfulness for a Deeper Connection with Resources for School-Community Stewardship | ROOM 352 Self, Others, and Place | ROOM 300 Projects Mindfulness, the practice of bringing our attention to How can I enhance student learning by connecting the present moment, is a simple and transformative with people in the community? Where can I find the skill. Studies show that practicing mindfulness can lead people, agencies, and organizations for help with to improvements in self-awareness, compassion for stewardship projects and place-based learning? This others, and care for the natural world. In this workshop, presentation tells stories of successful school-community participants will learn what mindfulness is, why it works, partnerships and provides contacts and background and how to practice it in our daily lives for deeper information to connect with statewide resources. connection with self, others, and our communities. Grace Shari Dann and Margaret Holtschlag (MSU, GRAND Helms Kotre (Power to Be, LLC) Learning Network)
Grass River and the Field Guide to Northwest Michigan | ROOM 310B James Dake, author of “Field Guide to Northwest Michigan,” will take you on a tour of Michigan flora and fauna while discussing how this guide is being used by classroom teachers as a “local science” textbook. This photographic & interactive presentation will inspire you to get outdoors, wherever you live! James Dake (Grass River Natural Area)
We Are The Forest & The Ypsi/Arbor Student Forest Project | ROOM 320 We Are The Forest is a place-STEAM education platform that trains K-12 students in Ecosystem Services, Bio-mimicry and Green Infrastructure. Launched in 2016, The Ypsi-Arbor Student Forest Project brings together diverse schools and students, creating opportunities for new stories, new forests, and student led green infrastructure projects. poster Friday session 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM 2ND FLOOR MEZZANINE HALLWAY
The Center for Great Lakes Literacy: A Collaboration Educational Opportunities Abound at Sleeping Bear Led by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Dunes National Lakeshore! This poster showcases the Center for Great Lakes Explore curriculum-based education with the National Literacy (CGLL), a successful collaboration among Park Service. Learn about ranger-led field trips, teacher- Great Lakes Sea Grant Educators. Learn how aquatic led field trips, virtual programs, and professional educators in the Great Lakes states mobilized to bring development opportunities. Discover how to bring a relevancy and awareness to Great Lakes literacy. ranger to your classroom, teach your students about CGLL builds a community of educators, scientists, stewardship through service learning projects, and more! and citizens committed to a Great Lakes sustainability Katie Fredericks (National Park Service-Sleeping Bear and stewardship through place-based professional Dunes National Lakeshore) development, educational resources, hands-on experiences, and networking opportunities. Lyndsey Manzo (Ohio Sea Grant) Detroit Outdoors! Youth Camping in Detroit’s Rouge Park Overnight camping experiences can create deep Creating Undergraduate Research Opportunities connections with place while strengthening interpersonal through Links to Volunteer Monitoring Organizations relationships at the same time. Come learn about a We will present several examples of undergraduate collaborative effort that is reactivating Detroit’s only research opportunities that arose in connection with the campground, Scout Hollow. Rouge Park is the city’s work of local environmental monitoring organizations. largest, and adding a fully outfitted gear library, a Margitta Rose, Thomas Tisue (Muskegon Community teacher training program, and dedicated youth campsites College) will enable hundreds, and eventually thousands, of urban youth to experience camping right in the city. Garrett Dempsey (Detroit Inspiring Connections Outdoors, Sierra Club) SESSION Friday 4 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
New Policy and Governance for Advancing K-12 Through this active session, participants will be deepen- Great Lakes Literacy, Sense of Place and Stewardship ing their understanding of the components and elements (Forum) | ROOM 208 Auditorium of Y-AP and be introduced to an observational tool which Take part in this deliberative dialogue to provide input outlines Y-AP standards that can be used for enhancing into state-level policy approaches for K-12 Great Lakes programs and professional development. John Weiss literacy, sense of place, and stewardship. Hear about (Neutral Zone) summaries of 11 diverse dialogues from across the state, and share your thoughts about viable policies, gover- The Role of Place-based Education in nance processes, and new incentives to strengthen the Creating a New America (2 Hour Workshop) already-excellent work in Great Lakes education. Shari ROOM 310B Dann (MSU, GRAND Learning Network) Creating community is the greatest challenge of the 21st century. Determining the role of education toward that How the Rock Connects Us | ROOM 300 end requires a deep commitment to re-defining “suc- Consider for a moment your connection to landscape: cess” and the “American Dream.” Fifty years ago, Dr. what shapes your sense of place? This presentation Martin Luther King called for a radical revolution in values explores the concept of geoheritage, peeling back the denouncing racism, materialism and militarism. We will layers revealing how our geologic underpinnings shape explore values that will “grow our souls” and discuss how the diverse ways we value and connect to our landscape. PBE can help in creating an inclusive community move- Using examples from the Keweenaw Peninsula, we’ll ment and a new America. Richard Feldman (The James explore the many educational opportunities geoheritage and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community presents for formal and informal learners. Dr. Erika Vye Leadership) (Education Program Assistant - Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, MTU) America’s Largest Classrooms: What We Learn from Our National Parks | ROOM 320 Divisions in Ypsilanti’s Landscape Place-based programming at U.S. National Park sites is Traveling Dialogue (Pre-registration Required) increasingly sophisticated and rigorously evaluated. We ROOM 302 compiled 25 case studies of learning and research for a Before the conquest of Michigan by the United States, forthcoming book (available December 2017). We sum- the place Ypsilanti now occupies was a Potawatomi vil- marize insights from practitioners and scholars work- lage. We will take a bus and walking tour to visit sites ing with NPS sites to enhance place-based education, that illuminate the varied Native American landscapes STEM, digital technology and collaborative partnerships and history of the area. We will explore the differences in across the country. This presentation is for educators, tenure of the Potawatomi and Americans, and the rela- managers and partners interested in the landscape tionship each group had with the land. We will look at the of place-based education at America’s national parks. new market-driven property divisions brought to Michi- Jessica Thompson (Northern Michigan University), Ana gan by the Americans and how our landscape continues Houseal (University of Wyoming) and Abigail Cook to be defined by them. Matt Siegfried (Southeast Michi- (Northern Michigan University). gan Stewardship Coalition) Forum: Engaging Students in 3D Learning Through | ROOM 330 Youth-Adult Partnerships: Providing Youth Authentic Place-based Education Voice and Participation (2 Hour Workshop) The Next Generation Science Standards(NGSS) calls for ROOM 310A teaching and learning that engages students in key ideas Through the youth-adult partnership (Y-AP) model, in science through the science and engineering practices. young people have authentic voice-sharing power with Place-based education provides a unique opportunity for adult collaborators. Y-AP both facilitates the develop- this type of learning to occur in the context of students’ ment of autonomy for adolescents and serves as a community. This forum will provide a brief overview of powerful approach to lead positive community change. three-dimensional learning as indicated by NGSS fol- lowed by collegial discourse on how to engage students Humanizing Schooling in Detroit | ROOM 352 in this type of learning through place-based education. Learn how People in Education (PIE) is humanizing Shawn Oppliger (Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative) schooling in Detroit. Educators, students, and media artists from PIE will share their lessons and experiences working in schools in Detroit. Starting off with a lively de- Students Leading Change to Protect the Grand River bate, we will share our media projects including the Out- (Forum) | ROOM 350 of-School Project and our work within schools. Partici- Groundswell, a hub of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initia- pants will leave with practices and resources for thinking tive, just completed a three year federal grant focused on about community issues in their classrooms. Nate Mullen reducing pollution to the Grand River. The Lower Grand (People in Education) River Education Initiative (LGREI) successfully improved education and awareness about stormwater pollution through teacher professional development and student stewardship activities in the community. We will discuss how we engaged students, teachers, and community members, and present educational resources developed through this project, including videos, lesson plans, and other materials. Joanna Allerhand and Clay Pelon (Groundswell) SESSION Friday 5 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Partnerships to Deepen Place-based Learning (Forum) Seventh Generation Sustainability: ROOM 208 Auditorium An Interdisciplinary Environmental Perspective It is no surprise that to connect learning more closely ROOM 330 to community that partnerships between community An interdisciplinary look ahead seven generations members and educators are essential to success. One of (140yrs); this session will offer a timeline that projects our principles of place-based education is “communities what seven generation sustainability could look like. serve as learning ecosystems for schools where local Concepts from “The Great Binding Law” are used to and regional experts, experiences, and places are part show current sustainability timelines and how we can of the expanded definition of a classroom”. In this group address sustainability to benefit the seventh generation discussion, come prepared to share your successes and and elevate environmental education and sustainability. challenges in place-based partnerships. Facilitators Tom Occhipinti (MI Department of Environmental Quality) are part of a long-term partnership between higher education, nonprofits, and school districts. Great Lakes, Great Lessons (2 Hour Workshop) Leslie Cook (Teton Science Schools) and Dr. Kate Muir ROOM 350 Welsh (University of Wyoming) Looking for unique strategies to teach about the Great Lakes? Wanting to reach your kinesthetic learners? Ohio Sustaining Stewardship in Washington Middle School Sea Grant has many lessons (aligned to NGSS and Great ROOM 300 Lakes Literacy Principles) appropriate for grades 5 – gray, Join Washington Middle School’s Lake Superior and usable in formal and nonformal educational settings. Stewardship Initiative Team as members describe the Focusing on impacts of population growth, beach litter evolution of place-based stewardship projects that and pollution, as well as general basin characteristics, have become firmly embedded in the school’s culture participants will practice and receive three lessons that over the past 10 years. Kristin Svoke, John Larson, Julie can be implemented the next week. Lyndsey Manzo Goldsworthy, Carl Arko, Darrell Hendrickson (Public (Ohio Sea Grant) Schools of CLK, Washington MS) The Crystal Lake “Walkabout”: Musings of a Nurturing Youths’ Commitments to the Serendipitous Saunterer - From Observational Environmental Commons through Youth Monitoring & Environmental Exploring to Place- | ROOM 352 Environmental Stewardship, Activism and Place- based Environmental Education & STEM Based Education | ROOM 320 The Crystal Lake “Walkabout” has enhanced awareness This presentation summarizes study results of a place- of its watershed community since 1993 by providing based stewardship education (PBSE) model with interactive “hands-on” activities of observational elementary through high school students from rural and monitoring and environmental exploring of selected urban communities. The study concentrates on how PBSE interpretive sites for more than 5,000 participants. Site can support STEM learning and the development of interpreters provide context and activities associated civic capacities for engendering democratic, sustainable with hydrology, water quality, land use, invasive species, communities. We’ll examine the potential for community atmospheric deposition, sediment chemistry, lake levels, based youth activism and progressive school-based and watershed management. The “Walkabout” concept pedagogical practices to nurture youths’ dispositions, can be compared with current trends in place-based commitments, and connection to nature and community, environmental education within interdisciplinary STEM in resistance to the enclosure of the commons. programs. Dr. Stacy Leroy Daniels (Benzie Co. River Erin Gallay (University of Wisconsin, Madison) Improvement Co.) SESSION Friday 6 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
Discovering the Historical Context of Place through Engaging Students with Community to Create Primary Source Analysis (Forum) a Community Park | ROOM 310B ROOM 208 Auditorium In 2005 parents and neighbors at Neinas Elementary Through an artifact inquiry program, we will explore raised concerns about neighboring blighted buildings. how primary sources can be analyzed to help students This presentation will share the story of how students, develop historical contexts of place. Historical relics teachers, parents and community partners worked to from the Grand Rapids Public Museum collection reveal re-envision the space and create the Alayna Elabed how the Grand River impacted the lives of Grand Rapids Community Park. We will share reflections on how residents between 1850-1910. We will aim to discover students were engaged in the planning and building the story of how the city’s predecessors interacted with process, how we cultivated community buy in and how the Grand River and how this history influenced Grand that lead to volunteers, funding, and a sense of shared Rapids as we experience it today. Erin Koren (Grand ownership. Christopher Burke (University of Michigan, Rapids Public Museum) Dearborn) and Amy Lazarowicz (Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy)
Place-based Learning on the Wai`anae Coast ROOM 300 North Woods Kids: a Multi-disciplinary Bridge to Participants in this session will present a collaboration Place-based Learning | ROOM 320 with community to develop and implement place-based The North Woods Kids art and writing exhibition and curriculum for schools along the Wai’anae Coast on the competition for K-12 students encourages integration of island of O`ahu Hawai`i. PLACES (Place-based Learning content areas (i.e., art and science) and diverse modes of and Community Engagement in School) supports expression (i.e., poetry and painting) generating place- place-based learning during the regular instructional based art, reading, and writing projects for a six-month day. Participants will provide an example of work exhibition series of student work. Join us in critical with teachers, students and community, and discuss thought and discussion regarding PBE’s potential to build strengths, challenges, and lessons being learned. relationships to community and appreciation for place, Dr. Kay Fukuda, Tammy Jones & Loke Wakinekona and how PBE can avoid the potential to reify provincial- (PLACES – University of Hawai’i) ism. Evelyn Johnson (Michigan Technological University)
Right Under Our Noses: Finding the Social Studies in School to Sanctuaries and Beyond (Forum) Flint | ROOM 310A ROOM 330 In this presentation, I will describe how I introduced The Michigan Nature Association’s (MNA) School to a place-based project to my elementary social Sanctuary program connects teachers and students to studies methods students in the elementary teacher nature for place-based, experiential and service-learning preparation program at UM-Flint. Attendees will learn opportunities in both the classroom and field, and we are how I adapted the traditional “write a lesson plan” seeking new school partners. Learn about the benefits assignment for a more locally-focused project—the to both teachers and students with stories and examples “Right Under Our Noses” inquiry. Elementary methods from our existing School to Sanctuary partnerships. students explored local historical sites in Flint, drew With over 170 MNA nature sanctuaries statewide, there maps of the city, and interviewed Flint residents as a may be one near your school! Julie Stoneman (Michigan way to learn more about the intersection of teaching Nature Association) and Aaron Wesche (Addison High history, geography, civics, and economics. Attendees School) will see examples of students’ inquiries and what they learned about Flint and teaching social studies in Flint. I will also give examples of other “local” Institutionalization: How to Make Place-based ways to teach social studies to elementary students. Education a Natural Part of Your School’s Culture and Annie Whitlock (University of Michigan-Flint) Organization (Forum) | ROOM 352 What would it take to make place-based education (PBE) part of every student’s education experience? Join us as we take you through a process to start thinking about how to institutionalize and sustain PBE in your school. There is no single route to institutionalization, but by looking at five critical components, we can work together to start creating a plan for sustaining this work in your school. Sarah Coleman and Erica Johnson (West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, Muskegon Regional Math Science Center) SESSION Saturday 7 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Transforming Teacher Education through Community Center to Nurture Community Leadership), Janice Space (Forum) | ROOM 208 Auditorium Fialka (Dance of Partnership), Kim Sherobbi (Birwood When teacher candidates are provided the opportunity Community House) to learn through culturally relevant and place-based practices, drastic improvements in classroom teaching Got Dirt? Helping Students Connect to Their Place occur. Teacher education programs should seek ROOM 310B opportunities for teacher candidates to connect with the local community in order to encourage the cultivation It can be challenging for place-based educators of welcoming, impactful, and productive learning to help students understand the concept of place environments for their students. In this way, teacher particularly if the school site doesn’t have much candidates gain a holistic understanding of what it “nature” to offer. This session will expose attendees means to be a culturally and socially responsive educator. to creative ways to connect to young people to their Kaitlin Popielarz (Wayne State University) school campus, nature center, etc. Spending part of the session outdoors, attendees will participate in an activity they can replicate at any site with access to soil. Nature Connection: Strengthening Student Lea Sevigny (Forest Hills Public Schools) Motivation and Deepening Connections to Place | ROOM 300 Consumerism and Its Root Causes (Forum) Discover how to create lesson plans that engage ROOM 320 the curiosity and creativity of K – 8 students through meaningful activities outside the classroom - activities Serious environmental issues have complex causes that incorporate identification, art, data collection, and including our own belief systems and values. Through getting dirty! Susan McCaskey (The Hill School) a NOAA B-WET grant, we have been exploring how to use NOAA curriculum materials in combination with other thinking tools, videos, and activities to get at the Modeling in Placed-based Education | ROOM 302 root causes of issues like marine debris. In this session, Learn how the Washington Middle School’s seventh we involve participants in a root cause analysis and grade science class undertakes a yearlong project that provide participants with concrete lessons, activities, integrates modeling with place-based stewardship in the and resources that can be used with students. Bill Boyle CLK School Forest at Calumet Township Park. See how (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition) and Dr. Ethan the class collects then analyzes data with a model, using Lowenstein (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition) this information to write a management plan for future harvests in the CLK School Forest. Darrell Hendrickson, What Difference Does Doing Field Research Make? (Public Schools of CLK, Washington MS) Comparing Outcomes from Inquiry Research, Citizen Science, and Adventure Hike Experiences for Middle/ | ROOM 330 Who Is Not at the Table? A Community That Excludes High School Students One of Its Members Is No Community at All! This study compares student growth in their attitudes (2 Hour Workshop) | ROOM 310A about science, self-efficacy, and understanding of Can we discuss place-based, project-based education nature of science principles after a week-long residential and the importance of community without folks with program that included specific instruction in a 1-day disabilities and the related conversations? Not asking experience in either open inquiry research, citizen- “Who is not at the table?” makes some community science research, or an adventure hike (no research). members Ghosts. Join us in “Breaking the Silence” as we Students from the Columbia School District, MO (n=442) discuss the relationship of place-based education to full visited Teton Science Schools for a week during the inclusion. “A Community that Excludes even one of its summer of 2016 or 2017 and were randomly assigned members is no Community at All” - Dan Wilkins. one of these three experiences. In this presentation, Richard Feldman (The James and Grace Lee Boggs preliminary results comparing student growth across these treatments and trade-offs associated with instructional activity choices will be discussed. Kevin Krasnow (Teton Science Schools)
Asking Questions and Discovering Answers: Engaging Youth in Science (2 Hour Workshop) | ROOM 350 What is the answer? Who cares? You don’t need all the answers to teach science. You simply need an inquisitive mind and a willingness to investigate. It’s all about the questions! Use this series of ready-to-go lesson plans to start teaching inquiry-based science to youth. The purpose is to teach the process of science – asking questions and discovering answers. These activities encourage young people to try to figure things out for themselves rather than just read an answer on the internet or in a book. Tracy D’Augustino (Michigan State University Extension)
Catching Waves Through Your Watershed- Environmental STEM Education aboard a Tall Ship ROOM 352 Explore ways that students use the NGSS framework to navigate through watershed issues facing the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay while being transported along this main artery to the Great Lakes in true place-based fashion. This is a truly anchoring phenomenon in STEM! Autumn Mitchell (BaySail) SESSION Saturday 8 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Building the Detroit Independent Freedom Schools than ever are taking students off campus and into our Movement (Forum) | ROOM 208 Auditorium community. This presentation will describe a fluid model In this presentation we offer reflections on the history that Nichols School is using to transition into a culture and present work of the Detroit Independent Freedom that connected and aware of the place they are from. Schools Movement (DIFS), which currently operates four Sandy Smith (Nichols School) freedom school sites throughout the city. We consider the relationship between our mission to “create free, Milkweed to Monarchs: A Winter-sowing African-centered, loving educational experiences for Collaborative Gardening Project | ROOM 320 Detroit children and families...” and a much longer tradition of place-based educational initiatives focused Milkweed Buddies is a winter-sowing project teaching on nurturing community strength and self-determination. about the special needs of Monarch butterflies, Dr. Michael D. Doan (Eastern Michigan University) attributes of milkweed, seed dispersal, recycling, and science concepts such as migration, camouflage, needs of plants, and more. At the tip off the Keweenaw Finding Your Place: Strategies from the PLACE Peninsula, where average annual snowfall is 250 inches, Program (2 Hour Workshop) | ROOM 300 Kindergarten students from one district worked in In this hands-on workshop, presenters will facilitate a collaboration with students from a one-room school 36 mapping and a journaling activity to explore participants’ miles away, extending the school garden season and personal connection to place and will share key learnings gaining more outdoor learning time. Barb Kinnunen- and place-based principles from the Place Learning and Skidmore (KCLK Elementary School) and Lloyd Wescoat Civic Engagement program. Participants will: experience (Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative) two sense of place activities, discuss how connection to place blended with science content can promote Community Access for All: Disability and Place-based student learning and civic engagement, and learn more Education | ROOM 330 about place-based principles that promote successful collaboration and inclusivity in rural communities. Disabled people are too often removed from or Leslie Cook (Teton Science Schools) and Dr. Kate Muir segregated in civic and educational communities through Welsh (University of Wyoming) institutionalized ableism, audism, and sanism. Traditional special education fails to meet the needs of disabled students and their families. Place-based education that Ripple Effect: Using Water to Connect Our ignores disability can’t adequately explore real, local Community | ROOM 310B communities. Drawing on our backgrounds in disability This year, Nichols School, an independent 5-12 school and mad studies, we’ll talk about our experiences in Buffalo, NY, committed to a school-wide theme of building inclusive schools and communities, and describe “Water and Community” to encourage and facilitate tools and attitudes that can make that happen. innovative, collaborative, interdisciplinary and cross- Dr. Phil Smith (Brehm Center for Special Education divisional connections through the context of place and Scholarship and Research- Eastern Michigan University) local resources. We began the school year with a day of and Jacquie St. Antoine (Eastern Michigan University) meetings that put faculty and staff on or near the water and engaged them with community partners and worked toward creating a technology platform for the sharing Engaging Community Partners through Shared of curriculum and connections. We’ve had a dynamic Benefits | ROOM 352 school-wide sharing of exciting curriculum, both inspired This workshop, co-led by a teacher and a community by this theme and recognizing work that folks have been partner, will discuss how to develop partnerships that doing before and are now intentionally connecting. In exhibit true reciprocity. Community partners sometimes just a few short weeks, we are already rippling beyond engage in place-based education activities out of a our classes and classrooms to share curriculum with sense of altruism, but those partnerships won’t last others that we may not have before, and more faculty long-term without eventual tangible benefits. Using our partnership as a case study, we will discuss how to develop place-based collaborations that result in academic gains, solutions to real-world problems, and measurable benefits to community partners. Eileen Boekestein (Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds) and Brenda Perry (Kent Innovation High School)
Incorporating Play into Environmental Inventorying: Games and Activities You Can Do Outdoors with Your Class (2 Hour Workshop) | 2nd Floor Lounge Let’s get moving! In this participatory workshop we partake in activities and games aimed at engaging different learning styles in outdoor exploration. These activities can be performed at a school campus or in the field and are a good way for students to compare different areas, habitat types or seasonal variations. We will also discuss ways to safely incorporate play and reflection into data collection and environmental inventorying. (*part of this workshop will be outside*) Jac Kyle (Detroit Audubon), Sarah Halson (SEMIS Coalition) and Dorothy McLeer (UM-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center) SESSION Saturday 9 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Got Hope? Building Supportive Teacher Teams Choosing to Collaborate: Two Universities Share (Forum) | ROOM 208 Auditorium Their Place-based Teacher Preparation Stories As educators we care deeply about our students, our (Forum) | ROOM 330 communities and our natural environment, but the University of Michigan-Flint redesigned their teacher pressures of work can leave us feeling discouraged. We preparation program as a place-based program several need a place to talk about the difficulties that interfere years ago. Eastern Michigan University is in the process with our enjoyment of teaching. This interactive session of creating a place- and community-based teacher will provide educators with a set of tools to avoid burnout preparation pathway. Faculty from both universities and build reliable relationships where our joy and worries share how they have uniquely adapted the place-based can be shared so that we can support change in our framework to reflect their individual communities and communities. Dr. M’Lis Bartlett (Discovering Place) discuss why they choose to collaborate rather than compete with each other. Dr. Iman Grewal, Dr. Wendy Burke, Dr. Ethan Lowenstein (Eastern Michigan University) Vernal Pool Patrol | ROOM 310A and Dr. Suzanne Knight (University of Michigan-Flint) Vernal pools are a unique and exciting type of wetland! We will share results of our Vernal Pool Patrol Program where we trained and engaged a network of 17 middle Incorporating Environmental Justice into Student and high school teachers, over 350 students and several Stewardship (Forum) | ROOM 350 community partners in northern Michigan from 2015– Groundswell, a hub of the Great Lakes Stewardship 2017 to map and monitor vernal pools. We will share Initiative,is expanding to include more students from lessons learned and discuss opportunities for initiating underrepresented populations. Communities with a Vernal Pool Patrol at your school or within your local lower socioeconomic status often are overlooked community. Yu Man Lee and Daria Hyde (Michigan in environmental protection efforts. Participants in Natural Features Inventory) this session will learn how to provide schools and students with tools to make change and become the next generation of environmental stewards. They also Plastic: A Tool for Student Learning and Community will discuss environmental justice issues and how to Engagement | ROOM 310B include underrepresented populations in environmental Come learn ways to connect student learning with marine protection projects. Joanna Allerhand (Grand Valley State debris, plastic in particular! From community awareness University - College of Education) and Kimberly Pawelka, campaigns to reducing waste in schools, resources will (Grand Valley State University - College of Education). be shared that connect classroom learning goals with strategies to protect our Great Lakes from the impact of marine debris. Beyond these tools, participants will also A Research Project to Ignite Students’ Interest in gain a better understanding of the impact of single-use Science through Field Trips at the Belle Isle Aquarium plastics on our Great Lakes and how to refuse to single ROOM 352 use. Meaghan Gass (Northeast Michigan Great Lakes This NSF-funded project is designed to increase student Stewardship Initiative) interest, knowledge and activity choices in ways that promote science education and STEM career choices among diverse youth related to fisheries, wildlife, Structuring Inquiry about Privilege, Place, and Race conservation and aquatic sciences. Teachers will ROOM 320 participate in a Summer Institute designed to enhance The presentation will help participants connect race, science content knowledge, assist with integrating the privilege, and the policies that affect the demographics BIA field trip into their curriculum, provide resources to and environment of a community. With a focus on support student engagement in BIA, establish a BIA- teaching this in secondary classrooms, the presentation centered Community of Learners, and promote STEM will show how to scaffold instruction to build up to an careers. Dr. Jeff Ram (Wayne State University), Joan understanding of privilege, rather than starting there and Chadde (Center for Science & Environmental Outreach igniting the typical resistance. Susan Santone (Creative - Michigan Technological University) and Nicole Samuel Change Educational Solutions) (John R. King Academy). BIOGRAPHIES
Joanna Allerhand practices to support communities working for social and Assistant Director environmental change. [email protected] Grand Valley State University - College of Education Joanna Allerhand is Assistant Director in the Center for Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong Educational Partnerships in the College of Education Earth Partnership Director at Grand Valley State University. She holds a Masters of University of Wisconsin-Madison Environmental Science and a Masters of Public Affairs No biographical information is available. from Indiana University and a B.S. in Journalism from [email protected] Northwestern University. [email protected] Eileen Boekestein Carl Arko Environmental Education Coordinator Math Teacher Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds Public Schools of CLK (Washington Middle School) Eileen Boekestein is the education coordinator for Carl Arko is a seventh grade math teacher at Washington the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds, Middle School in Calumet, Michigan. He joined the Lake an agency of the Grand Valley Metro Council. She Superior Stewardship Initiative team in January 2014. manages education and outreach relating to stormwater, He coaches the Calumet High School golf team, and watersheds, and non-point source pollution. Eileen enjoys coaching his three children in their sports. holds a B.S. in Environmental Biology and a M.S. in [email protected] Environmental Studies, and has worked in both formal and informal education settings since 2006. Nathan Ayers [email protected] Founder / Director We Are The Forest Bill Boyle Nathan Ayers is a national leader in permaculture, Educator biomimicry, and regenerative community systems. An Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition artist, designer, ecology, and forestry expert, Nathan’s Bill Boyle is the former Director of the Model Center, passion is connecting youth with Forests, and inspiring a Bowers Academy and Equity Programming in Bloomfield new generation of Nature-based problem solvers. Hills Schools. He has 31 years of experience as a teacher, [email protected] athletic coach, and administrator at all levels of K-12 education. Bill has worked diligently to form schools Dr. M’Lis Bartlett that serve as places of belonging for all students as the Leadership Team foundation for learning. [email protected] Discovering Place Dr. M’Lis Bartlett’s research weaves together theories Eliza Braunschneider and practices of environmental education, environmental Student justice, and landscape architecture to explore how Summers-Knoll School participatory design can support the engagement of Eliza Braunschneider is a 4th grade student at Summers- youth in future environmental stewardship. Her recent Knoll School and has experience with place-based work draws on over 20 years of experience as an urban learning, environmental stewardship and justice both environmental educator in New York City, Detroit, on and off campus grounds. Working with Washtenaw and Flint. She is passionate about using participatory County, local partners, and her teacher, Chris Swinko,
This year’s conference is co-hosted by Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, a regional hub of he Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. Eliza and her classmates have impacted their local Joan Chadde environment through composting, planting trees, Director installing and maintaining campus rain gardens, and Michigan Technological University Center for Science & taking action to help the victims of the Flint Water Crisis. Environmental Education Joan Chadde, has an M.S. in Water Resources and Christopher Burke Secondary Science certification. She has more than 30 Associate Professor of Education years of experience in K-12 STEM and environmental University of Michigan–Dearborn education program design, implementation and delivery Chris Burke is a faculty member at the University of of teacher professional learning. She was a founding Michigan–Dearborn’s College of Education, Health and member of the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiatives Human Services. His work focuses on helping students Leadership Team in 2007 and continues to serve in engage with their community in ways that help them to this capacity. Chadde is lead author of the Michigan cultivate their sense of science agency. Environmental Education Curriculum Support Water [email protected] Quality Unit. [email protected]
Wendy Burke Sarah Coleman Professor and Director of Student Teaching Science Consultant Eastern Michigan University WMGLSI, Muskegon Regional Math Science Center Wendy Burke is a professor in curriculum and instruction Sarah Coleman is the science consultant for the and the Director of Student Teaching at Eastern Muskegon Regional Mathematics and Science Center, Michigan University. As a faculty member, her focus project director for West Michigan Great Lakes is place-based education, EMU’s Social Emotional Stewardship Initiative, and coordinator of Muskegon Learning Collaboratory, and the teacher preparation County’s Green School program. Prior to her programs. She currently occupies EMU’s John W. Porter employment at the Muskegon Area Intermediate School Endowed Chair, which supports secondary place-based District, Sarah spent 13 years teaching middle school and education programs at Eastern Michigan University. Her high school science and mathematics. scholarly interests include teacher learning, leadership [email protected] development, and school, university, and community partnerships. [email protected] Leslie Cook Sr. Director of Educator Development Piper Carter Teton Science Schools Founding Member Leslie Cook is the Director of Educator Development for Detroit Independent Freedom Schools Teton Science Schools. In this role, she oversees and Piper Carter is an image maker, fashion photographer, conducts professional development for teachers and and community cultural organizer in the environmental teaches a course on place-based education for Teton justice, maker space, food justice, and entertainment Science Schools’ graduate students. justice communities. She is co-founder of the Foundation [email protected] of Women in Hip Hop, founding member of the Detroit Digital Justice Coalition, multimedia artist for Jessica Abigail Cook Care Moore’s Black Women Rock, and founding member Student Intern of Detroit Independent Freedom Schools. Most recently Northern Michigan University she led the Arts & Culture Committee for the 2017 Abigail Cook is an undergraduate research intern, National Women’s March Inaugural Convention in studying public relations and graphic design at Northern Detroit. [email protected] Michigan University. She is currently a special project intern for the National Park Service where she is helping Brandi Cartwright to edit and design the book, “America’s Largest Head of School Classroom: What We Learn From Our National Parks.” Raintree School She has recently become interested in visitor experience Brandi Cartwright has spent her career honing a teaching and place-based education. [email protected] style and philosophy congruent with her goal of acting as an agent of change in a struggling education system. Tracy D’Augustino She holds degrees from Northwestern University and St. Science Educator Thomas University and began her teaching career with Michigan State University Extension Teach for America. She has taught pre-kindergarten, Tracy D’Augustino has a B.S. in Composite Biology and middle school, and secondary students. Cartwright co- Secondary Education from North Dakota’s Mayville founded Raintree School, basing the school’s educational State University and a M.S. in Biological Sciences from philosophy on her desire to advocate for student’s needs Michigan State University. She was a Michigan Math and celebrate their capabilities. Science Center Director for 5 years before joining MSU [email protected] Extension. Tracy joined the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative in 2007, using place-based Amy Demarest education to connect youth with their communities Curriculum Coach through hands-on explorations that address real issues of Our Curriculum Matters interest to both youth and [email protected] Amy Demarest is a former middle grades classroom teacher who has used the local environment to engage James Dake students throughout her teaching career. She teaches Education Director watershed education and standards-based curriculum Grass River Natural Area design in Vermont and works at the graduate level James Dake, Education Director at Grass River Natural with teachers who seek to weave their places into Area in Bellaire, is a certified Michigan Teacher, author their teaching. She is the author of two books: “This of “A Field Guide to Northwest Michigan,” and holds an Lake Alive! A Handbook for Teaching and Learning M.A. in Science Education. [email protected] about the Lake Champlain Basin” and “Place-based Curriculum Design: Exceeding Standards Through Local Dr. Stacy Leroy Daniels Investigations.” [email protected] President pro tem Benzie Co. River Improvement Co. Garrett Dempsey Dr. Stacy Leroy Daniels (PhD, UM 1967), has been a Chair professional environmental engineer in industry (Dow Detroit Inspiring Connections Outdoors, Sierra Club Chemical Co.), academia (University of Michigan), small Garrett Dempsey is the Chair of Detroit Inspiring business (Ingenuity IEQ, Inc.), government (U.S. EPA), Connections Outdoors, a program of the Sierra Club. His and nonprofit organizations (Crystal Lake & Watershed vocation is connecting young people in urban areas with Association, CLWA) since the 1960s. He has observed, meaningful outdoor experiences. Through his Sierra Club participated in, and directed many studies of the role, Garrett is collaborating with partner organizations Crystal Lake Watershed, culminating in the creation of to reactivate Detroit’s Scout Hollow campground as a the Crystal Lake “Walkabout” in 1993. He is currently resource for all youth serving organizations. the President pro tem of the Benzie County River [email protected] Improvement Company. [email protected] Dr. Michael Doan Shari Dann Assistant Professor Associate Professor Eastern Michigan University and Detroit Independent MSU - GRAND Learning Network Freedom Schools Movement Shari Dann is Associate Professor of Community Michael Doan is a community-based activist living in Sustainability at Michigan State University. She conducts Detroit. He works with Detroiters Resisting Emergency research on sense of place and community engagement. Management, the Detroit Independent Freedom Schools Her teaching includes a required undergraduate course Movement and the Boggs Center to Nurture Community in Community Engagement for Sustainability and an Leadership. He is also a Professor of Philosophy at elective course on Community-Based Environmental and Eastern Michigan University. [email protected] Sustainability Education. [email protected] Micala Evans Lauri Davis Lecturer Teacher/Science Department Chair Eastern Michigan University Houghton High School Micala (Mi-Ky-lah) Darcel Cochran is a current Adjunct Lauri Davis is a veteran teacher of 18 years who teaches Lecturer in the Department of Africology & African physical science, biology, and forensic science and American Studies, and a Ph.D. student in the Urban serves as the chairperson of the Science Department Studies program in the College of Education, both at at Houghton High School. Lauri holds a B.S. in Biology/ Eastern Michigan University. Evans is a Success Coach Environmental Sciences from Shippensburg University and mentors students one-on-one to achieve their of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Wildlife Biology from goals and to think outside of the box. She is also an Washington State University. She worked as a research entrepreneur and provides historic community tours to scientist before obtaining her teaching credentials in K-12 institutions, in exchange for youth volunteerism. Secondary Sciences from Eastern Michigan University. [email protected] [email protected] Ryan Feldbrugge Ajani DeFreece Rivers2Lake Education Mentor Student Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve The James and Grace Lee Boggs School Ryan Feldbrugge received his Masters of Environmental Ajani DeFreece is a pioneer 8th grader at The James and Education degree from the University of Minnesota, Grace Lee Boggs School. He is known for his diplomacy, Duluth where his focus was on the effect of wilderness friendliness, and athleticism. immersion on connectedness to nature in adolescent youth. Currently as the Education Mentor for the Seashore, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Rivers2Lake Education Program he is working to facilitate [email protected] and enable classroom teachers to get their students outside and engaged in authentic learning about the St. Ellen Freedman Schultz Louis River Estuary and Lake Superior Basin. Associate Director for Education [email protected] Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center Ellen Freedman Schultz develops and manages Richard Feldman education programs related to water quality, watershed Parent, Visionary Community Activist management, and the history of Philadelphia’s James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture municipal water system. She c-chairs the Education Community Leadership for Sustainability Committee of the School District of Rich Feldman attended the University of Michigan in Philadelphia and works with the NYC DEP on a K-8 the 1960s and has had the privilege of working with Curriculum Guide about New York City’s water supply. James and Grace Lee Boggs (boggscenter.org) for more She holds a B.A. from Vassar College, a M.S. from than 40 years. He is the father of Micah Fialka-Feldman University of Pennsylvania, and serves as adjunct faculty (throughthesamedoor.com) who is a disability justice at Bucks County Community College. activist and to Emma Fialka-Feldman who is a second [email protected] grade teacher in Boston. He is committed to inclusive education and to his partner-friend-wife Janice Fialka. Cieara Freeman Rich spent 20 years on a Ford assembly line, 10 as an Student elected union official and 15 as a staff member of the Ypsilanti Community High School UAW. [email protected] Cieara Freeman is a senior at Ypsilanti Community High School and is part of several school groups, including Janice Fialka the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. and the Parent and Professional; National Speaker and Trainer; Riverside Art Center Teen Advisory committee. She Author has participated in community art projects such as Art Dance Partnership Prize and Ypsi Glow, worked on two community murals, Janice Fialka is a nationally-recognized lecturer and and participated in a peace march on Eastern Michigan advocate on issues related to disability, parent- University campus. professional partnerships, inclusion, raising a child with disabilities, sibling issues, and post-secondary education. Clara Freeth She is the author of “What Matters: Reflections on Student Disability, Community and Love” and “Parents and Summers-Knoll School Professionals Partnering for Children With Disabilities: Clara Freeth is a 4th grade student at Summers-Knoll A Dance That Matters.” She is also a parent, poet, a School and has experience with place-based learning, compelling storyteller, and an award-winning advocate environmental stewardship and justice both on and off for families and persons with disabilities. campus grounds. Working with Washtenaw County, [email protected] local partners, and her teacher, Chris Swinko, Eliza and her classmates have impacted their local environment Dr. Simeon Frang through composting, planting trees, installing and Director of Curriculum maintaining campus rain gardens, and taking action to Orchard View Schools help the victims of the Flint Water Crisis. Dr. Simeon Frang (Ed.D.) currently serves as the curriculum director at Orchard View Schools. His interests Dr. Jing Fu include equity in education and elevating teacher and Lecturer student voices as an approach to school reform. University of Michigan–Flint [email protected] Dr. Jing Fu is committed to preparing excellent English as a Second Language and foreign language teachers Katie Fredericks for students from early childhood to mature learners in Education Technician public school and other settings. She teaches courses in National Park Service-Sleeping Bear Dunes National ESL and foreign language education and multicultural Lakeshore education to both foreign language majors and Katie Fredericks earned her M.A. in Public History from education majors, and supervises teacher candidates. Dr. Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis Fu’s research pertains to English and foreign language in 2013, before going on to begin a career with the teacher preparation, multicultural education, culturally National Park Service (NPS). She has worked in the field responsive pedagogy, and inclusive practices in K-12 of education and interpretation for the NPS at Sleeping classrooms. [email protected] Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Cape Hatteras National Dr. Kay Fukuda Sarah Halson PLACES Project Director Field Coach University of Hawai`i Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition Kay Fukuda is a Specialist at University of Hawai`i at Sarah Halson has been a member of the Southeast Manoa and Project Director of PLACES (Place-based Michigan Stewardship Coalition since 2009. Her current Learning and Community Engagement in School). role is to support teachers in their place-based and Kay’s work focuses on issues of equity, access, and social eco-justice education inquiry projects. She specializes in justice. As Project Director with PLACES she advocates the student-driven Earth Force curriculum and Outdoor for, and supports, culturally relevant and individually Classroom Learning. Sarah holds a B.S. in Environmental responsive education for students on the Wai`anae Studies and Science, Technology and Society from Coast, home to the largest concentration of Native Pitzer College and was selected as the Informal Science Hawaiians. [email protected] Educator of the Year by the Michigan Science Teachers Association in 2012. [email protected] Erin Gallay Research Specialist Maximilian Harper University of Wisconsin–Madison Student Erin Gallay is a practitioner and researcher of youth Ypsilanti Community High School. environmental civic engagement and place-based Maximilian Harper, a junior at Ypsilanti Community High stewardship education. She studies youth environmental School, is a classroom leader for the African American commons activism at the University of Wisconsin– Mural Project and the silent peace march. He has given Madison. [email protected] speeches at Eastern Michigan University’s Ecojustice and Activism Conference and two peace marches, and Meaghan Gass recently gave a TEDx talk. Max has been nominated for Network Coordinator 2017 Young Citizen of the Year, co-founded the Ypsilanti Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative junior chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, Meaghan Gass helps connect students, teachers, and and juggles varsity sports baseball and soccer. community partners to protect our Great Lakes through hands-on, place-based education. Her passion is raising Kim Hatfield awareness about the impact of single-use plastics and Math Teacher educating others on how to refuse single use. In addition Flint Southwestern Classical Academy to working with formal K-12 classrooms, she is also a Kim Hatfield has taught secondary math for the past 14 Plastics F.L.O.A.T. 4-H Club leader, where she works with years in the Flint Community Schools. She has worked youth to encourage local businesses to reduce single-use with Discovering Place, the Flint hub of the Great Lakes plastic use. [email protected] Stewardship Initaitive, for the past 6 years. She became involved in place-based stewardship education because Julie Goldsworthy of her love for animals and her desire to save nesting Integrated Technology Teacher mallard ducks at her school. [email protected] Public Schools of CLK (Washington Middle School Julie Goldsworthy is a 7th grade integrated technology Grace Helms Kotre teacher at Washington Middle School in Calumet, MSW, Mindfulness Teacher & Founder Michigan. She has been involved with the Lake Superior Power to Be, LLC Stewardship Initiative since 2012 and has incorporated Grace Helms Kotre, MSW, is a Certified Mindfulness Microsoft Office applications and more to develop real Instructor and the founder of Power to Be, LLC. She and professional projects in the computer curriculum. provides mindfulness instruction for children and adults She enjoys outdoor activities, including boating, ATV in Southeast Michigan. [email protected] riding, and snowmobiling with her family and friends. [email protected] Darrell Hendrickson 7th Grade Science Teacher Dr. Imandeep Grewal Public Schools of CLK (Washington Middle School Faculty Darrell Hendrickson is the 7th grade science teacher at Eastern Michigan Univerty Washington Middle School in Calumet, Michigan. He is Dr. Imandeep Kaur Grewal is a full-time lecturer in the the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative—Washington Department of Teacher Education at Eastern Michigan Middle School team leader and has been involved University and the founder and Director of Sikhya: in the LSSI since its inception. In promoting place- Strengthening Girls Voices and Choices Through based education, Darrell has incorporated and layered Education (www.sikhya.org), a non-profit that offers integrated ecological principles in all aspects of his community-based mentoring and scholarships for science classes. He enjoys connecting with the outdoors girls living in poverty. Iman is a former Waldorf School with his wife by camping, hiking, kayakin, and fishing. teacher. [email protected] [email protected] Margaret Holtschlag She earned her B.A. in biology and education, along with Educator her M.A in education from Grand Valley State University. MSU–GRAND Learning Network [email protected] Margaret Holtschlag teams up with Michigan’s Capital Area teachers for all kinds of place-based learning and Evelyn Johnson stewardship. Margaret is involved with the GRAND Senior Lecturer,Humanities/ Learning Network, is founder/director of the BIG Coordinator of English Secondary Education Lesson Programs (history, nature, zoo, science), and was Michigan Tech University Michigan Teacher of the Year in 2000. Evie Johnson teaches a range of courses--such as [email protected] Young Adult Literature, Methods of Teaching English, and Literacy in the Content Areas--designed to meet Ana Houseal the needs of teacher candidates. As a teacher, teacher Associate Professor educator, and literacy activist, she is interested in University of Wyoming instructional methods that integrate the arts, science, Ana Houseal earned her PhD in secondary and and literature; classroom experiences that cultivate continuing education at the University of Illinois understanding and empathy through narrative studies; Champaign-Urbana. Her research interests include: and exploring ways that communities can create the best student-teacher-scientist and citizen science partnerships; conditions for learning to occur. [email protected] integration of NGSS, curriculum development and professional development models; implementation of Sharon Johnson NGSS within Wyoming school districts; and National Park Student Service projects focusing on education and interpretation The James and Grace Lee Boggs School outcomes. She has 30+ years of teaching experience at Sharon Johnson is an 8th grader at The James and Grace the K-8, undergraduate and graduate levels and currently Lee Boggs School. She is known for being hard-working teaches courses in research methodology and science and a passionate debater. education pedagogy in formal and non-formal settings. [email protected] Dr. Tammy Jones PLACES Project Coordinator Diondre Hunter Place-based Learning and Community Engagement in Student School (PLACES), University of Hawai’i at Mānoa The James and Grace Lee Boggs School Dr. Tammy Jones earned her MEdT in 2005 and her Diondre Hunter is an 8th grader at The James and Grace PhD in Curriculum Studies in 2012, both from the Lee Boggs School. This is his first year at the school University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She spent the first ten and yet he is known as “The Kindergartner Whisperer” years of her career as an English teacher and Literacy because of how much the youngest kids look up to him. Coach at James Campbell High School. In 2014 Tammy moved to a public charter school focused on examining Daria Hyde ecological and economical systems. She currently is a Conservation Scientist Project Coordinator for PALS/PLACES Hawai’i, helping Michigan Natural Features Inventory teachers on the Waianae Coast to develop place-based Daria Hyde has 23 years of experience working as a curriculum. [email protected] conservation scientist, planner, and educator. She serves on the Mitchell’s Satyr Working Group, actively Matthew Kadow monitoring populations and writing conservation plans Education Program Coordinator for this rare butterfly. Daria also helped to initiate Wisconsin Maritime Museum Michigan’s vernal pool monitoring program and trains Matt Kadow is a Wisconsin Licensed Educator. As an and coordinates its citizen scientists. She obtained a B.S. Informal Educator at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University he oversees and participates in the delivery of an and a M.S. in Conservation Biology from Central interdisciplinary Maritime Heritage curriculum that Michigan University. [email protected] sees over 6,000 students participate annually. Matt’s current priorities are the development of robotics and Erica Johnson maritime archaeology programming in anticipation of the Project Specialist Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary. West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, [email protected] Muskegon Regional Math Science Center Erica Johnson has worked at the MAISD Regional Math Dr. David S. Karpovich and Science Center since 2012. She coordinates several H. H. Dow Endowed Professor of Chemistry programs for the MAISD, including the West Michigan Saginaw Bay Environmental Science Institute–Saginaw Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative and REAL Science. Valley State University David Karpovich joined the Saginaw Valley State problems. His research focuses on understanding fire University faculty in the fall of 1998 after completing ecology, global change, ecosystem resilience and his Ph.D. at MSU and a post-doctoral position at Pacific effective science education. He has instructed Outward Northwest National Laboratory. Much of his research Bound courses in the Beartooth Mountains, taught high involves Michigan’s environment, water resources, school biology and chemistry, and directed an outdoor and agriculture with a common theme being the wise leadership and science program in San Francisco public use of natural resources. He leads the SVSU Dow schools. Currently, he leads ecological and educational Science and Sustainability Education Center which research at the Teton Science Schools (TSS) and teaches provides opportunities for many high school students, ecology courses at the Graduate Program of TSS. teachers, and college students to become involved in [email protected] environmental science research. [email protected] Jessica Kreuger Barb Kinnunen-Skidmore Instructional Coach Kindergarten Teacher Ypsilanti Community High School CLK Elementary School & A.C.C.E. Program Barb Kinnunen-Skidmore, a kindergarten teacher at Jessica Krueger is currently an Instructional Coach CLK Elementary in Calumet, Michigan, is an active working with math and science teachers at Ypsilanti member of the team that supports place-based Community High School. Their focus this year is education in the school. Since 2008, Barb and her incorporating project and place based experiences colleagues have worked with the Lake Superior for the students at YCHS. Before this year she taught Stewardship Initiative, creating a school garden, outdoor project based math in YCHS’s New Tech small learning learning areas, geoheritage trail, and more all on the community. This is her third year being involved in the school grounds. Drawing on years of experience as an Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition. early childhood educator, Barb integrates curriculum, [email protected] age-appropriate practices, and the local community into her lessons, emphasizing the importance of learning Zora Kuu Flournery outdoors. [email protected] Student The James and Grace Lee Boggs School Dr. Suzanne Knight Zora Kuu-Flounory is a pioneer 8th grader at The James Associate Professor and Grace Lee Boggs School. She is known for her quiet University of Michigan-Flint yet steady leadership. Dr. Suzanne Knight is a teacher educator at the University of Michigan-Flint who teaches undergraduate and Jac Kyle graduate methods courses in English education, as well Program Coordinator as undergraduate secondary foundations courses. She is Detroit Audubon one of the co-coordinators of the university’s secondary Jac Kyle has been engaging youth and adults in hands- teacher preparation programs. Dr. Knight’s research on environmental education and stewardship for almost interests include teacher education, specifically English a decade. For the past three years she has lived and education and place-based teacher education. worked in Detroit, connecting teachers and students to [email protected] local natural areas and involving them in activities that improve the health of the Great Lakes. Currently she is Erin Koren the Program Coordinator for Detroit Audubon. Learning Specialist [email protected] Grand Rapids Public Museum Erin Koren earned a Bachelors of Science from Grand Katie Larson Valley State University, with a double major in Biology Education Manager and Secondary Education and a minor in English. Her Alliance for the Great Lakes passion for community-based informal education has No biographical information is available. brought her to the Grand Rapids Public Museum where [email protected] she works to design and deliver education programs and collaborate with teachers to ensure impactful museum John Larson field trips. [email protected] Social Studies Teacher Public Schools of CLK (Washington MS) Kevin Krasnow Research and Graduate Faculty John Larson is the Seventh Grade Social Studies teacher Teton Science Schools at Washington Middle School in Calumet, Michigan. He has been involved with LSSI since its introduction at WMS Kevin Krasnow is an ecologist and educator seeking and has integrated the ” local stewardship” principles sustainable solutions to pressing environmental into the broader cultural and historical curriculum he teaches. He enjoys the work of cutting firewood, making Michigan Campus Compact Champion of Engagement maple syrup, snowshoeing, and hunting. In the past, Award and the 2015 John W. Porter Distinguished Chair along with his wife and two daughters, he has been in Urban Education. [email protected] involved in volunteer historic reenacting at Colonial Michilimackinac. [email protected] Dr. Norm Lownds Associate Professor and Curator Amy Lazarowicz Michigan State University Elementarty Science Teacher Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy Dr. Lownds has been actively working with teachers, students and school gardens for over 25 years and Amy Lazarowicz is a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade science has served as Curator of the Michigan 4-H Children’s teacher at Neinas Elementary in Detroit. Her work Gardens for the past 20 years. He created the focuses on teaching science concepts while providing Collaborating Classrooms program to connect classes place-based, project based experiences that allow to 4-H Children’s Gardens and works closely with the students to be stewards of their environment. Michigan State University Teacher Education program. [email protected] Dr. Lownds holds B.S., M.S. and PhD degrees in Horticulture from Michigan State University and is the Yu Man Lee 2007 recipient of the American Horticultural Societies JL Conservation Scientist Taylor Award. [email protected] Michigan Natural Features Inventory Yu Man Lee has over 21 years of experience developing Lyndsey Manzo and conducting applied research, monitoring, and Education Specialist inventory projects to inform the development and Ohio Sea Grant implementation of conservation and management Lyndsey Manzo is a Science Curriculum Specialist in efforts. She initiated the development and Westerville, OH, coordinating grades 6-12 science implementation of the Michigan Vernal Pool Monitoring curriculum integration and coaching teachers on Program, training and coordinating citizen scientists to improving instructional strategies. She serves on collect data on these unique ephemeral wetlands. She standards and assessment committees for the Ohio holds a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Department of Education, is an Ohio Sea Grant Michigan and a M.S. in Wildlife Science from Oregon Education Specialist, and works on many efforts related State University. [email protected] to Great Lakes literacy. She represents Ohio Sea Grant in various regional and national capacities, including the Cora Lee-Palmer Center for Great Lakes Literacy. Educational Outreach Program Coordinator [email protected] Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Cora Lee-Palmer, the Educational Outreach Program Rebecca Marquardt Coordinator for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Place-based Education Consultant & Landscape Architect District, provides management and oversight of district- Revery wide educational outreach initiatives that increase public understanding and awareness about regional Rebecca Marquardt is a place-based education water quality issues. She has worked extensively with consultant to Groundswell, a landscape architect with Milwaukee school administrators, teachers, and students, private and public experience, an Aldo Leopold Land engaging them in professional development, providing Ethic Leader Attendee, a Michigan Master Naturalist, curriculum development support, and delivering a variety a Michigan Master Gardener, and a Sustainable SITES of learning activities for multiple grade levels. She holds exam reviewer. [email protected] undergraduate and graduate degrees in Management and Communications as well as other academic Jennel Martin-Powell certificates. [email protected] Project Manager University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D) Environmental Interpretive Center Dr. Ethan Lowenstein Director Jennel Martin-Powell is passionate about science Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition education and has been in the field of education for 16 Dr. Ethan Lowenstein is a Professor of Curriculum years. Her experience has spanned teaching biology, and Instruction at Eastern Michigan University and physics, middle school science, and creating a curriculum the Director of the Southeast Michigan Stewardship for a bioethics class. She joined the Central Michigan Coalition. He has almost 20 years of experience in school SMTC at Central Michigan University as project manager systems reform, educational leadership development, almost 2 years ago, in which time she has conducted and teacher professional development in civic and many professional learning sessions for teachers and place-based education. He is the recipient of the 2016 coached a team of second grade curriculum writers for Phenomenal Science. [email protected] Susan McCaskey Iyana Morgan 5th/6th Grade Teacher Student The Hill School Ypsilanti Community High School Susan McCaskey is a native of Middleburg, Virginia, and Iyana Morgan is a junior at Ypsilanti Community attended The Hill School when she was a child. She has High School and actively participates in numerous served as lead science teacher for the 5th and 6th grades organizations/programs (National Society of Black for 20 years and is active in The Hill School’s place-based Engineers, Community Arts, Gender Consciousness, education program. As a teacher, Susan draws regularly Dollar for Scholars, Riverside Art Center Teen Council, on her childhood experiences exploring local fields, Art Prize, Ypsi Glow). As a freshman, Iyana received the ponds, and woods learning about the natural world. She Principal’s Award for her work ethic and determination earned a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of to succeed. She was recently inducted into the National North Carolina at Wilmington. Honor Society, holds a 4.0 GPA and is dedicated to [email protected] leaving a legacy in this world.
Dorothy McLeer Dr. Kate Muir Welsh Program Coordinator Associate Professor of Elementary Education University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D) Environmental University of Wyoming Interpretive Center Dr. Kate Muir Welsh is an educator with over twenty- Dorothy McLeer is an Interpretive Naturalist and the five years (14 of them at the University of Wyoming) Program Coordinator at the University of Michigan- experience in both formal and informal education Dearborn (UM-D) Environmental Interpretive Center, settings. Her primary research agenda and published where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s work to date focuses on collaboration, equity, access, degree in Environmental Studies and has worked for and social justice in education in general with an almost 25 years. Dorothy received the Michigan Alliance emphasis on science education. She is currently for Environmental and Outdoor Education’s William an Associate Professor in the elementary and early B. Stapp Award in 2007, is a Certified Environmental education department and Department Head for Educator, and teaches Environmental Interpretation at Secondary Education. [email protected] UM-D as a Certified Interpretive Trainer through the National Association for Interpretation. Nate Mullen [email protected] Director People In Education Darcy McMahon Nathaniel Mullen is the director and founding member Program Director of Detroit Future Schools, an Allied Media Project. Central Michigan Science, Mathematics and Technology Nate’s classroom work thrives at the intersection of Center at CMU art, education and people as he leads student media Darcy McMahon loves working with teachers and has investigations ranging from stop motion videos about been facilitating Professional Learning for more than Newton’s Laws to infographics on the complexities of 20 years. Along the way, she has also been a middle global economics. He is a graduate of Detroit Public school classroom teacher, adjunct professor of teacher Schools, has a B.F.A. from the University of Michigan, education at Central Michigan University, Director of and is a lover of bad jokes, cheesy graphics and Krista Education and Volunteers at the Midland Center for the Tippett. [email protected] Arts, and an instructional coach. Her great passion is for STEM teaching, curriculum and assessment. Mindy Nathan [email protected] Independent Consultant The Why Collaborative Autumn Mitchell Mindy Nathan teaches students who are seen Director of Education as “overage and under-credited” and who have BaySail experienced trauma. She works with the SEMIS Coalition Autumn Mitchell has served as BaySail’s Director of and the Detroit Independent Freedom Schools to Education since February 2017. She earned her B.S. in help her students develop critical connections to their Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and city (Detroit) and the environment. Through Mindy’s has over ten years of experience in Environmental and support and commitment to community-based learning, Outdoor Education. Autumn has served as a Park Ranger her students have become critically conscious of the with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an Educator at combined impacts of water shut-offs, home foreclosures, Chippewa Nature Center and a Program Specialist and bad landlords, and school closings and empowered to administrator at multiple residential outdoor learning address those struggles. [email protected] centers in the Midwest. [email protected] Rebecca Nielsen Brenda Perry Program Director Biology & Algebra 1 Facilitator Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalitian Kent Innovation High School Rebecca Nielsen’s responsibilities as the Director Brenda Perry is a science facilitator at Kent Innovation of Programming for the SEMIS Coalition include High, a public project based learning school in Kent coordinating the planning and facilitation of Coalition County, MI. She is committed to using project based wide professional development experiences and whole- learning to connect her students with the communities school instructional support for SEMIS Coalition schools. they live in. Ms. Perry graduated from Grand Valley She participates in strategic planning and fundraising State University with a bachelor’s in natural resources efforts and provides professional coaching support to management and from the University of Michigan with a the SEMIS coaching team and SEMIS members. She master’s in educational studies. [email protected] holds a BS in Science from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Teaching from the University of Virginia. Kaitlin Popielarz [email protected] PhD Student & Clinical Instructional Coach Wayne State University Tom Occhipinti Kaitlin is a PhD student and teacher educator at Wayne Environmental Education Coordinator State University. She is also a research collective Department of Environmental Quality activist with We The People of Detroit. Her research Tom Occhipinti is Michigan’s Environmental Education and education interests focus upon connecting teacher Coordinator located in the Department of Environmental education programs to the local community in order to Quality (DEQ). He is responsible for leading Michigan’s provide future educators the opportunity to learn place environmental education strategy. Before joining state based and culturally relevant pedagogy for the diverse government, Tom worked for the Grand Rapids Area learners they will teach. [email protected] Employment and Training Council for ten years. Tom holds a Bachelors in Multidisciplinary Social Science Julia Putnam from Michigan State University and a Masters in Public Principal Administration from Western Michigan University. The James and Grace Lee Boggs School [email protected] Julia Putnam is one of the co-founders and the Principal at The James and Grace Lee Boggs School. She is proud Shawn Oppliger to be working in the place in which she was born and Director raised, Detroit, and she sees herself constantly in her Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative students. The 8th graders you will meet will be the first Ms. Shawn Oppliger is the director of the Western UP graduating class at The James and Grace Lee Boggs Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education School where they have been taught that they are the and the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative. She has Solutionaries that we are all looking for. 20 years of experience in supporting math and science [email protected] teachers to align their classroom instruction to curriculum standards and improve their instructional practice. Sakinah and Zakiyyah Rahman [email protected] Students Eastern Michigan University Kimberly Pawelka Sakinah and Zakiyyah Rahman are former Ypsilanti New Groundswell Program Manager Tech High School students from the class of 2017. During Grand Valley State University - College of Education their time at YNT the twins were active members of the Kimberly Pawelka is the Groundswell Program Manager school community. During their senior year they were in the Center for Educational Partnerships in the College nominated and awarded with the 2017 Youth Citizens of of Education at Grand Valley State University. She holds the Year award. Sakinah and Zakiyyah currently attend a Masters in Educational Leadership from Western Eastern Michigan University where they have continued Michigan University and a Bachelors in Biology from their investment and involvement in the Ypsilanti Hope College. [email protected] community.
Clayton Pelon Dr. Jeff Ram Associate Director Professor; Director Grand Valley State University - College of Education Wayne State University Clayton Pelon is an Associate Director in the Center for WSU-Belle Isle Aquarium Field Laboratory Educational Partnerships in the College of Education Dr. Jeffrey L. Ram is a professor at Wayne State University at Grand Valley State University. He holds a Masters (WSU), Director of the WSU-Belle Isle Aquarium Field in Higher Education Administration and a Bachelor of Laboratory, and head of the NSF-ITEST grant for place- Science in Public Administration from Michigan State based education at the Belle Isle Aquarium. Jeff has University. [email protected] worked on invasive species for more than 25 years, with numerous publications on the physiology, molecular inspiring to the school’s community of learners. detection, and ship ballast technologies to detect and [email protected] control invasives. His education outreach projects include creating aquarium and museum displays and organizing Susan Santone field trips and teacher professional development Executive Director experiences. [email protected] Creative Change Educational Solutions Susan Santone is passionate educator with over 20 years Kamari Ray of experience in teacher education, school improvement, Student curriculum reform, and educational policy. Through The James and Grace Lee Boggs School Creative Change, a non-profit focused on curriculum and Kamari Ray is a pioneer 8th grader at The James and pedagogy, she has led national curriculum reform and Grace Lee Boggs School. She is known for her dry wit teacher education initiatives and publishes and consults and prolific reading. on sustainability, neoliberalism, ecological economics, social justice, and democratic education. She is the Margitta Rose author of the forthcoming book, Reframe the Curriculum: Adjunct Faculty Design for Sustainability and Social Justice (Taylor and Muskegon Community College Francis). [email protected] Margitta Rose is an adjunct professor in math at Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, MI, who Lynne Settles works closely with local environmental monitoring Art Teacher groups. Ypsilanti Community High School & SEMIS Coalition Lynne Settles is a veteran art teacher in her 4th year with Andrew Russo Ypsilanti Community High School. She has won numerous Former Math Teacher & SEMIS Coalition Staff awards including the Exemplary Education Endeavors Eastern Michigan University Award, the Mercedes Wauddy Humanitarian Award, the Andrew Russo is a former math teacher currently City of Ypsilanti Proclamation for Partnership, and the working with the Southeast Michigan Stewardship 2017 DTE Art Educator of the Year! She is one of the Coalition. His focus has been alternative assessment and founding members of the African American Mural project project-based learning. [email protected] which has guided her students in the completion of 4 community murals related to history. [email protected] Matthew Samocki Project Manager Central Michigan Science, Mathematics and Technology Lea Sevigny Center at CMU Teacher Forest Hills Public Schools Matthew Samocki is a former Freeland High School teacher and H.H. Dow High School assistant principal. In Lea Sevigny teaches a place-based communications his current administrative position at Central Michigan course she designed for middle school students in Forest University (CMU), he continues to work with K-12 Hills Public Schools. Involved with the Groundswell hub educators and establish relationships with educational of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative since it launched organizations while working on Phenomenal Science and in 2009, Lea enjoys helping support other teachers with other STEM related projects. He is working toward his their place-based efforts. Ed.D.in Educational Leadership from CMU and aspires to [email protected] become a faculty member in higher education. [email protected] Kim Sherobbi Parent, Advocate and Dreamer of Place-Based Inclusive Education Nicole Samuel Assistant Principal Birwood Community House John R. King Academy Kim Sherobbi is a retired Detroit Public School teacher, Nicole Samuel holds a National Board Certification the founder of Birwood Community House, and a board and a Masters in the Art of Teaching. She has over 20 member of the James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to years of teaching experience along with a certification Nurture Community Leadership. [email protected] in Administration and Supervision, and Curriculum and Instruction. Formerly the Science Instructional Specialist at John R. King Academy, she is now the acting assistant principal where she spends time developing STEM related projects and programs that are engaging and Dr. Phil Smith Kristin Svoke Professor; Director, President, Language Arts Teacher Eastern Michigan University Public Schools of CLK (Washington MS) Brehm Center for Special Education Scholarship and Kristin Svoke is a Seventh Grade Language Arts teacher Research at Washington Middle School in Calumet, Michigan. She Society for Disability Studies has been involved with LSSI since its beginning and has Dr. Phil Smith has explored the issues of disability, incorporated the goals and objectives into the classroom culture, inclusion, and madness throughout his 40-year with a focus on writing. She writes a monthly column fora educational career. A professor at Eastern Michigan local newspaper, and enjoys time in the outdoors with University, he has presented and consulted around the her husband and three daughters. world, published in a variety of journals and books, and [email protected] received several awards for his research and scholarship. In addition to being a graphic artist, Dr. Smith has edited Chris Swinko and written a pile of books including poetry, fiction, and Teacher plays. [email protected] Summers-Knoll School Chris Swinko has a B.A. from Oakland University and Sandra Smith a M.S. in Education Studies from the University of Science Department Liaison Michigan. He wants his 3rd and 4th grade students Nichols School, Buffalo NY to leave his classroom with a greater awareness Sandra Smith is an educator from Nichols School in of themselves and their environment, seizing the Buffalo, NY, where she designed and implemented a opportunity to move forward in the world as creative 7th grade science curriculum to introduce chemistry problem solvers who nurture their passion and act with principles through the lens of water, environmental empathy. [email protected] resources, the Great Lakes, and Western New York. Ms. Smith currently directs a school-wide initiative to connect Dr. Jessica Thompson the school inter-disciplinarily and cross-divisionally Associate Professor through the theme of ‘water and community.’ Communication and Performance Studies, Northern She holds a BA in biology from Amherst College and a Michigan University MS in environmental engineering science from the State Jessica Thompson earned her PhD in environmental University of New York at Buffalo. ssmith@nicholsschool. communication at the University of Utah with research org focused on interdisciplinary research team dynamics, specifically the negotiation of language and power Jacquie St. Antoine in climate science teams. She has worked on several Doctoral Student; Adjunct Professor; Teacher; Artist NSF and National Park Service funded projects Eastern Michigan University investigating climate change education and outreach Jacquie St. Antoine is an adjunct professor at Eastern in the southwestern U.S., Mexico, Mongolia, India, Michigan University, a special education teacher, a and Singapore. She teaches courses in environmental doctoral student, and somehow makes time to be a communication, public relations, and new media literacy. mother, too. A published writer, her art has been sought [email protected] after for publication as well. She has presented on issues about disability and madness in regional, national, and Thomas Tisue international conferences. [email protected] Adjunct Faculty Muskegon Community College Julie Stoneman Thomas Tisue is an adjunct professor in chemistry and Director of Outreach and Education environmental science at Muskegon Community College Michigan Nature Association in Muskegon, MI, who works closely with the Duck Creek Julie Stoneman is the Director of Outreach and Education Watershed Assembly. He has extensive experience as a for the Michigan Nature Association, which works to professor and researcher at Clemson University and the protect Michigan’s rare, threatened and endangered University of Chicago. species by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. She has served as the Associate Director of Heart Dr. Erika Vye of the Lakes, Executive Director of the Land Conservancy Education Program Assistant of West Michigan and held senior staff positions in land Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, MTU use policy for both the Michigan Environmental Council Erika Vye received her PhD from Michigan Technological and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. University with a research focus on geoheritage and [email protected] improved communication of Earth science to the broader public. She has a particular interest in how people connect to the Earth, the landscape, and how that Lloyd Wescoat ultimately guides their decisions on land use issues. She Leadership Team Member is active in the development of Earth science curriculum Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and the advancement of geoheritage, geotourism, and Lloyd Tucker Wescoat works with education the development of a Global Geopark designation for programming for the Western Upper Peninsula Center for the Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale. Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education at [email protected] the CCISD and the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at Michigan Technological University. With Dr. Loke Wakinekona a masters in elementary education and background in PLACES Project Coordinator service learning, she supports teachers, students, and Place-based Learning and Community Engagement in community partners through her work as a member of School (PLACES), University of Hawai’i at Mānoa the leadership team for the Lake Superior Stewardship Dr. Loke Wakinekona is a former elementary school Initiative. [email protected] teacher. A Native Hawaiian, born and raised on the Wai’anae Coast of O’ahu, Hawai’i, she is dedicated to Annie McMahon Whitlock working in Native Hawaiian communities educating Assistant Professor of Elementary Education Hawai’i’s children by connecting them to the brilliance University of Michigan-Flint that is in their own community. Dr. Wakinekona is an Annie McMahon Whitlock is an Assistant Professor of active board member for multiple community based Elementary Education at University of Michigan-Flint. organizations that serve the Native Hawaiian population In addition to teaching the elementary social studies through such focuses as health, preschool through post- methods course, she is the Elementary Education secondary education, and financial literacy. Program Coordinator, focusing on the student teaching [email protected] experience. Her research is centered on teaching social studies through civic engagement, place-based inquiry, Judy Walton and integrating language arts and literature. Chief Innovation Officer [email protected] Forrest Hills Schools Judy Walton (Ed.D) currently serves as the Chief Jeanie Williams Innovation Officer at Forrest Hills Schools. Her interests Lead Scientist and Education Specialist currently include creating innovative approaches to Inland Seas Education Association learning in secondary schools and elevating teacher and Jeanie Williams was drawn to Inland Seas Education student voices as an approach to school reform. Association because she wanted to blend scientific [email protected] research with education. She holds a BA in biology and an MS in secondary education and environmental John K. Weiss science. She’s guided whale watches in the Bay of Director of Strategic Initiatives Fundy, taught biology, sustainability, and ecology at Neutral Zone - Ann Arbor the Community College of Vermont, and participated John Weiss served as the Executive Director of the in several research endeavors. In her free time, Jeanie Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor’s Teen Center for 9 years and can be found looking for wildflowers, stand-up paddle currently serves as its Director of Strategic Initiatives boarding, drawing, or swimming. leading the organization’s training/coaching work with [email protected] after-school and school-based programs. Previously John served as a teacher in Ypsilanti and Willow Run Schools Bennie Williams and as the Director of the Adolescent Division at the Student High/Scope Educational Research Foundation as well as Ypsilanti Community High School a teacher in the Peace Corps. Twitter: @youthdriven Bennie Williams is a junior at Ypsilanti Community [email protected] High School and actively participates in numerous organizations/programs (Community Arts, National Aaron Wesche Society of Black Engineers, Peer 2 Peer, Youth Advisory Biology Teacher Council, Riverside Art Center Teen Council). He has Addison High School participated in Art Prize and Ypsi Glow and has unveiled Aaron Wesche has been an Addison High School Science two murals in Ypsilanti with the Community Arts Teacher for 17 years. He has taught a duel enrolled program. Bennie was recently inducted into the National science class through Siena Heights University as well. Honor Society due to his scholastic excellence (GPA He attended Central Michigan University and completed 3.7), leadership skill, and commitment to community a masters program through Michigan State University. betterment. Aaron is married, has one son, and is a big believer in using technology and getting kids outside in nature. [email protected]