People

Combining a Master's degree in Environmental Science and twenty years teaching students in nature-filled schoolyards, my current work with Green Schoolyards America includes curating and developing outdoor lessons for the living schoolyard, whether it is a schoolyard forest, vegetable garden, or native habitat. We are working to inspire and support systems change to transform asphalt-covered schoolgrounds into living schoolyards so that all children have daily access to nature on their school grounds - to learn, to play, and for their health and well-being.

Jill Rich is an educator and director of the Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Varina High School in Henrico County, Virginia. With extensive experience in curriculum development, GIS instruction, and project-based learning, she leads innovative, sustainability-focused programs that connect students with real-world environmental challenges. She coordinates capstone projects, field experiences, and community partnerships, preparing students to apply geospatial thinking in meaningful and impactful ways.

I am Morgan Henson, STEM Science Specialist for Suffolk Public Schools with over 15 years of experience in elementary education. Prior to my current role, I taught fourth and fifth grade and served as a grade-level lead, mentor teacher, and STEM facilitator. I am passionate about supporting high-quality science instruction, developing standards-aligned curriculum resources, and helping teachers create engaging, inquiry-based learning experiences for students. I have also served on multiple Virginia Department of Education science committees, including item review and standard-setting work for the Science SOL assessments.

Dr. Yue Li is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on AI integration into environmental education, professional development for environmental educators, environmental action, and community engagement. She collaborates with scholars across disciplines to conduct interdisciplinary research in both online and face-to-face settings and across cultural contexts. 

I am a secondary education teacher in the Wake County school system. I am curently a UNC Energy Litercy Fellow. I teach earth and environmental science and marine ecology. Prior to moving to North Carolina I lived in Northern New Hampshire. 

My name is Kristen Sturgeon, I grew up in New Jersey but have been calling Florida my home for the past 15 years. I have been working in the natural resource field for the last five years, but have always had a pull towards water resources as well. I enjoy being outdoors and visiting new areas all around Florida with my family. I have a goal to visit every state park in Florida! 

Erica is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver in Responsive Literacy Education. As a former elementary teacher and administrator, and current teacher educator, Erica is committed to supporting activism, advocacy and environmental justice through literacy in PK-12 classrooms and in higher education. 

Lalitha Murali is a gifted and talented and STEM teacher for the Glendale River-Hills School District. She was chosen as one of the top 20 Women of Influence Awardees in Wisconsin for her educational leadership in 2017. 

Preethi Mony is a specialist in the field of environmental education, program evaluation and grants and has a wide range of experience from developing resource matierials, conducting programs with children and adults, as well as evaluating programs and grant reporting.

Growing up in the busy metropolis of Mumbai, she quickly recognized the importance of the social aspects of conservation in protecting the natural world. She has worked with organizations in India and the US to help with environmental education program planning and resource development. She has over 20 years of experience working with zoos and museums to evaluate programs and exhibits and recommend strategies to improve the overall visitor experience. Over the last 2 years, she has worked at a local community college to support grant work (federal, state, and private) as well as to inform data driven decision making in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. She brings all of these experiences to her current role of EE Grant and Program Manager at NAAEE.

Preethi holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University. She earned her M.S. in interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida, and a B.Sc. in Life Sciences from the University of Mumbai, India.

My name is Geneva or Neva for short. I have five years working with children who have experienced domestic violence as a volunteer with Safe Alliance. My passion is watching them learn resiliency through interactions with each other and the world around them. My goal is to teach children life skills gained from learning how to use the environment around them.