Teachers Starting Fires helps teachers bring purpose and passion into their classrooms.

I am responsible for assessing and updating the education curriculum for the Punta Culebra Nature Center including: creating standards aligned lesson plans, developing pre- and post program materials for use by teachers in their classrooms, creating and implementing a training program for instructors, creating a methodology manual, and training permanent staff for program sustainability. The program is designed to adhere to the following standards: NGSS, MEDUCA (Panamanian national standards), 21st Century Learning. It is founded on inquiry based learning, non-formal education best practices, and instructors will be given training in experiential education methodology. This is a 9-month contract/volunteer position through Peace Corps Response.

As Program Director for Colorado Adventure Point I wear numerous hats in order to ensure the growth and success of the organization.Strategic planning of overall program including prioritization of goals and establishing short, medium, and long term outcomes. Partnership cultivation with community, governmental, and private organizations. Maintain positive and mutually beneficial connections, represent the organization at professional events and conferences.Budget management of overall program and individual projects. Program development from concept to implementation to assessment. Staffing including selecting and interviewing candidates, making hiring decision, oversee work scheduling and reporting of hours, ensure all staff receive appropriate training.Marketing, brand development, brand growth

Member of Masters Program Development team responsible for designing of marketing strategy, curriculum, budget, and education methodology.Implemented experiential education strategy that revolves around an emphasis on community engagement and project based coursework.

Designed and implemented curriculum for a 10-week environmental education training program for 27 adults aged 22 – 42Facilitated 60 hours of training sessions utilizing experiential learning and non-formal education techniques for the purpose of modeling ideal environmental education practices.Measured and evaluated trainee and program performance through written feedback formal interviews.Performed daily activities in a multilingual work environment.

Instructed students age 6 to 14 in English as a foreign language. Total classroom hours 1500.

Developed sustainable environmental education program for 3 schools in rural community in Paraguay. Extended service one year to fill role of Volunteer Coordinator. Responsibilities included logistical and technical support of volunteers in the field, implementation of in service training events and participation in the development of strategic 5-year environmental sector project plan.