People

Gianna Santo is a youth environmental activist and founder of Gi Naturalize, an environmental education initiative that blends art, humor, and culture to make climate learning accessible to communities in Brazil’s Northeast. Rooted in the cerrado landscape where she grew up, Gianna connects environmental education with ancestral wisdom and local stories. She also collaborates with youth networks like Engajamundo and TMJt UNICEF, advocating for sustainability and children’s rights. Recognized as the first in her state Earth Prize Scholar and by her city’s Youth Secretariat for civic engagement, Gianna continues to use art and education as tools for climate resilience and social change.

Experienced interpretive professional with a focus on partnerships between our public lands and concession operations.

I enjoy exploring, learning and teaching about the natural history of California and other places I have the privilege to visit. I feel like there is always more to learn about nature, Indigenous influence on ecosystems and understanding the continual changes in our world. I have lived throughout California my whole life and am currently living in the Eastern Sierra where adventuring is endless. I am married and have one cat. 

I am  Joaqui Miranda is a dedicated Physical Education teacher with a strong passion for health, fitness, and student development. With several years of experience in teaching and coaching, [he/she/they] works to inspire students to lead active and healthy lifestyles.

I  earned a degree in Physical Education and has received training in sports coaching, fitness instruction, and student wellness. Throughout my career I  has organized school sports programs, coached various teams, and promoted teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship among students.

As an educator,I  believes that physical activity plays an important role in building confidence, improving mental health, and encouraging lifelong healthy habits. I strives to create a positive and inclusive environment where all students feel motivated and supported.

Outside of teaching, I enjoys staying active through sports, fitness training, and community involvement.

Being raised on a Pennsylvania farm near Lake Erie, Rhonda developed a deep connection to land and water. She earned a BS and MEd from Penn State University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction with an environmental focus from UNC Wilmington, where she now teaches. Rhonda is also a freelance environmental journalist in the Wilmington, NC coastal region. Her work has appeared in Black Warrior Review, American Submariner, Coastal Review, storySouth, among others. A former Brauer Fellow, she was a semifinalist for North Carolina Literary Review’s 2024 Alex Albright CNF Prize. She is working on a memoir exploring brain injury and the healing power of trees. With five grown children, Rhonda, her beloved, and their dog savor sunrise beach walks.

Madeline Stewart is the Head of Administration at Two Rivers Farm School in Aurora, Oregon, where she is helping lead the school’s growth from an early childhood program into a full elementary model. Her work centers on creating a deeply connected, nature-based learning environment that honors childhood through rhythm, relationship, and meaningful work. Drawing inspiration from Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia approaches, she is passionate about building schools where children spend their days outdoors, engaged in hands-on learning and a strong sense of community. Madeline is especially interested in reimagining what education can look like when it is both academically rich and grounded in the natural world.

As a dedicated school leader, I am passionate about creating engaging, inclusive learning environments where young children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

I oversee both traditional and nature-based programs, guiding curriculum development, standards-based progress reporting, and instructional alignment across divisions. My work emphasizes meaningful family engagement, building strong partnerships between home and school to ensure families feel connected and valued in their child’s learning journey.

When educators feel supported, families feel included, and children feel known, learning flourishes and school communities thrive.

I am a teacher at a public charter school in Michigan's upper peninsula that has an environmental focus.

I have worked in the  Virgnia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) for 31 years, and my badge says "Teacher"; yet, I have never taught in a traditional classroom. I complete developmental assessments with a team of five professionals in both arena-style and in a diagnostic classroom style. I have always felt I had settled by doing what was expected of me and choosing the safe/easy path as a career. While I have provided for my family, enjoyed my experiences, and grown immensely, it is time to discover myself. 

My name is Katherine (Kate) Highsmith and I live in Cabarrus County.  I am a passionate STEM teacher who brings curiosity and creativity into everything I do. Working at two elementary schools, I strive to inspire young learners not only through science and technology, but through hands-on exploration and imagination. I love creating art in all kinds of media, and journaling and reading help me reflect and grow.

Outside the classroom, I feel most at home in nature—hiking and traveling across North Carolina, throughout the United States, and around the world. I’ve visited over 15 national parks, and each one has deepened my appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our natural world. Sharing that sense of wonder with young children and my own family is one of my greatest joys. Through STEM and outdoor exploration, I hope to nurture curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning in every student I teach.

I has always enjoyed spending time outdoors and learning all I can from nature. As a lifelong learner and outdoor enthusiast, I am passionate about teaching the science of nature to help others foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for our natural environment. I attained a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a B.S. in Mathematics from Shenandoah University. Continuing my education, I went on to complete a M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration in Aquatic Ecology at George Mason University.