Featured Teachers

Youth Programs Assistant Manager, Seymour Marine Discovery Center “You will never believe this... when you emailed me this morning,  I was using Shape of Life in a virtual marine science summer camp that I am leading. I am currently teaching a program called "Something's Fishy" for youth ages 7-9, and your website really came in handy.”Learn more about Katrina and the herculean task of teaching summer programs in the time of COVID-1  

We first heard of Nancy through an interview with our Featured Scientist, George Matsumoto, at MBARI. Nancy, George told us “is a standout educator” who participated in MBARI’s EARTH professional development program.When George showed us the lesson plan and accompanying book based upon Nancy’s collaboration with artist Jill Pelto, our jaws dropped!

It wasn’t hard to miss Holly Lammert at the recent NSTA Regional Conference in Salt Lake City-  she drove her Wonderment Bus onto the show floor!Discover how this boldly creative teacher makes magic in a converted school bus delivering STEM lessons to eager kids along the road. “My mission is to inspire kids to collaboratively create solutions to real world problems.”

Telling the Story of Us in Our PlanetIf you step outside Nicole Crane’s office at Cabrillo College, you see the Monterey Bay. When Nicole isn’t teaching about ocean science, she wears her marine scientist hat and leads a project in a faraway part of the same ocean — in Micronesia.   

We were first introduced to Carole through our Tree of Life Poster Contest where she shared her experience using Shape of Life resources in her classroom at Maryvale Prep School. What impressed us most is the way Carole credits her childhood experience in the outdoors to her lifelong love of science. It’s tough getting kids outside with all the ‘insta-info’ on screens. Carole’s approach certainly is encouraging. 

OUR WINNER!Guadalupe was a definite 'stand out' in our Tree of Life poster contest.She is a very special teacher with a multi-layered appreciation for science.Guadalupe is a dual-language immersion teacher at a school with a high percentage of low-income students, in Los Angeles County."Language is no barrier when I share Shape of Life videos with my students."Guadalupe has been teaching for 10 years. She has taught Kindergarten, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth grade.  Currently, Guadalupe teaches Kindergarten at La Ballona Elementary School in Culver City, CA - where she shares her love of science with young children.

Brittany Basse, Middle School Teacher, Baychester Middle School, Bronx, NYCBrittany Basse, teaches eighth grade Science and Humanities at Baychester Middle School in the Bronx, New York City. The layers of challenges echo in her title alone – yet her candor, direct approach, honesty, and an unpolished sense of humor make it clear why she does not just survive but thrives in a teaching environment where turnover rates and morale are often in stark contrast.

Attending conferences is always fun for us. This summer we attended National Marine Educators Association annual conference—and it was a BLAST!A highlight was meeting the enthusiastic (and, we mean enthusiastic!) teacher, Charlene Mauro who has been using Shape of Life in her classroom for 20 years. Charlene teaches at The Navarre Beach Marine Science Station- a unique fusion of formal and informal education.

Lacey Moore has worked and played outside all her life. As an adventure travel guide Lacey enjoyed the physical engagement of being outside backpacking and kayaking in the Pacific Northwest- “but, my favorite part was sharing the science behind the natural world with people of all ages. I believe it lends greater depth to the outdoor experience,” says Lacey.

When we asked Lisa Uttal if she thought of herself as more of a teacher or scientist she quickly responded, “I can't decide which one-- I love doing both.” We could tell she had given it some thought. And, on the gorgeous sunny day we met Lisa at the Santa Cruz Wharf—there was no question that she had struck the perfect balance between science, education and communication. The kind of balance that can only result in a contagious curiosity about our oceans.