People

Jackie leads the strategic direction of PLT’s PreK-12 environmental education materials, as well as other influential adaptations and partnerships. As a part of this work, she represents PLT at various education and conservation conferences and events across the country.

Undergraduate Junior at the University of Colorado Boulder

Front Desk Associate at the Butterfly Pavillion in Westminster, Colorado

I am a master gardener who is looking to do more for the environment and to support our ecosystems. I went through the master gardener course in 2023 and have found that it has an agricultural focus, not an ecological focus. I am hoping to apply to the Master Naturalist program as that appears to be more in line with what I am interested in. 

I am from the mountains of northern California. I am married to my high school sweetheart, have 3 children and 5 dogs. I went back to school for another BS but in Evironmental Science so I could better understand my photographic subjects. My journey started in medicine and the military. For over 21 years, I listened to the most human forms of vulnerability. Now, I listen to the wild, with a camera, with stillness, and with purpose.

Ike Novitasari is an elementary school teacher with a background in Agroecotechnology and a passion for nature-based learning. She integrates outdoor exploration, environmental awareness, and hands-on activities into her teaching to help young children build curiosity, empathy, and connection to the natural world. She believes that meaningful learning happens when students engage with nature directly and learn through real experiences.

Laureanna brings energy-related activities to teachers across her home state through KEEP - Wisconsin's K-12 Energy Education program. She has a background in elementary and environmental education, and in her free time she writes picture books, hikes, plays board and card games, and dreams of places in the world that she'll visit next.

I am an Environmental Engineer and want to learn more about environmental education. 

Judy Braus brings to her role as NAAEE Executive Director a wealth of experience in the environmental education profession, with a focus on conservation education, diversity and inclusion, and using the power of education to help create healthier communities that empower local communities, stakeholders, and individuals to help restore and protect the environment. She comes to NAAEE from the National Audubon Society, where she was the Senior Vice President of Education and Centers, overseeing an extensive nationwide network of nature centers and educators. Prior to that, she led the education programs at World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the U.S. Peace Corps, and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

Emily earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Ball State University and went on to teach first grade in Indianapolis, IN. At that time, the lack of widely accessible environmental education in urban areas led her away from formal education and into the field of informal science education at Lincoln Park Zoo. She worked on developing inquiry-based science curriculum for the zoo’s Conservation Camp program and later found her niche as the Early Childhood and Family Programs Coordinator.

Emily’s knowledge of nature education and developmentally appropriate practice allowed her to drive early childhood programming to the forefront of education offerings at Lincoln Park Zoo. Her work primarily focused on highlighting the importance of early experiences with the natural world and the long-term positive impact of these experiences. In an effort to break down barriers and create more diverse and accessible programming, Emily worked to expand the zoo’s offerings to a broader audience. Her progress on this goal is exemplified most notably through a partnership with Chicago Park District, the addition of an early childhood volunteer position, and the design and implementation of several nature play spaces.

In service to the greater AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) community, Emily served as a Nature Play Leader, where she supported other early childhood environmental educators by sharing resources, professional development opportunities, and leading discussions around important topics. Her experience advocating for early childhood environmental education led her to NAAEE and Natural Start Alliance as the Communications and Conference Coordinator. She is excited to continue the important work of Natural Start Alliance and explore new ways to support and engage the Alliance’s amazing community of members.

Emily is based in Chicago, IL.