People

Irma Vazquez

36 year dual immersion bilingual education teacher. I'm currently teaching 3rd grade in Inglewood Unified School District and working towards earning my EE certificate so that I can integrate language learning best practices with EE. I'm most interested in helping newcomers enjoy outdoor learning while acquiring a target language. 

I am an educator and environmental science professional with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Forest Biology and a passion for connecting students with science, nature, and their local environment. I currently work in elementary education while completing my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential through CalStateTEACH. My background includes environmental and outdoor education, STEM and robotics, and hands-on, inquiry-based learning. I am passionate about creating inclusive learning experiences that inspire curiosity, environmental literacy, and lifelong stewardship.  

Laguna Canyon Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and ongoing protection of the South Coast Wilderness. We envision a thriving coastal ecosystem that serves as a source ​of inspiration, connection, and refuge for all.

Ariel joined the NAAEE team in September of 2021 as a Senior Administrative Assistant. Prior to this role, she has over 15 years of administrative experience in a laboratory and office setting. She is originally from the suburbs of Illinois and moved to Washington DC in 2009, where she attended Howard University. She received her B.A. in Psychology at the College of Arts and Sciences with a minor focus in Administration of Justice. She aspires to travel the world to learn and experience cultures outside her own. Should Italy be next?

Stacie joined the NAAEE team in April 2020. She has worked in or alongside the education field for over two decades and in communications for more than 15 years. She started her career teaching at a public charter high school in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining NAAEE, she managed communications for Annenberg Learner, a leading national nonprofit that connects K–12 and college educators with classroom content and professional development to support and strengthen their practice. She holds an M.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies from American University, and a B.A. in Modern Languages and Linguistics and Certificate in Secondary Education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She also completed a Certificate in Social Impact Storytelling at Georgetown University. Throughout her career, she has been committed to bringing exceptional educational opportunities to underserved areas and educating to promote civic engagement.

Hi, I'm Frieda,

I currently work as a preschool teacher and run the community garden at my school. 

Tana Shepard, a founding member of Oregon Educators for Climate Education (OECE), brings a nurturing, deeply rooted approach to climate education. A lifelong Oregonian, first-generation college graduate, and devoted public school teacher of 22 years, Tana believes in the healing power of place-based, intergenerational learning to build resilience and inspire change.

She began her journey in education at César Chávez Elementary in Eugene, where she guided the Green Team, led the STEAM team, and lovingly cultivated the Dolores Huerta school garden. Under her care, the school earned Oregon Green School certification. Tana’s gift for storytelling and grant writing brought resources that allowed her students to explore the natural world with wonder and respect.

In 2017, she stepped into her current role as a Climate, Energy, and Conservation teacher, supporting students across grades K–12. She now tends to the 4J/EWEB Education Partnership, planting seeds of knowledge around climate, water, energy, and resilience. From salmon watch field trips to hands-on renewable energy projects and earth-honoring art like Parachutes for the Planet, her work is rooted in love for the Earth.

In 2024, she was honored with the Oregon Science Teacher Association’s Distinguished Service to Science Award—a reflection of her lifelong devotion to nurturing the planet and its future stewards.