HEATH HINES
Faculty Advisor
Heath H. Hines is an environmental science educator and environmental professional with more than 25 years of experience in education, watershed conservation, environmental compliance, water and wastewater treatment, and STEM outreach. He currently teaches Environmental Science and Anatomy at the Northwest Area School District and also teaches Physics, Earth and Space Science, and STEM courses for the Wilkes University Upward Bound program.
Heath holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Bloomsburg University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology from Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg. He is the recipient of the National Science Teachers Association Maitland P. Simmons New Teacher Award and has been recognized nationally for innovative STEM and environmental education initiatives.
Passionate about experiential learning, Heath focuses on creating hands-on environmental education opportunities that connect students with conservation, watershed science, and outdoor learning experiences.
HEATH HINES
Faculty Advisor
Heath H. Hines is an environmental science educator and environmental professional with more than 25 years of experience in education, watershed conservation, environmental compliance, water and wastewater treatment, and STEM outreach. He currently teaches Environmental Science and Anatomy at the Northwest Area School District and also teaches Physics, Earth and Space Science, and STEM courses for the Wilkes University Upward Bound program.
Heath holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Bloomsburg University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering Technology from Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg. He is the recipient of the National Science Teachers Association Maitland P. Simmons New Teacher Award and has been recognized nationally for innovative STEM and environmental education initiatives.
Passionate about experiential learning, Heath focuses on creating hands-on environmental education opportunities that connect students with conservation, watershed science, and outdoor learning experiences.
Allyson is the Education and Program Support Specialist with one of Virginia’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts. There, she leads all education and outreach programming on behalf of the district and works with agricultural landowners and homeowners to install best management practices for local soil and water quality. While studying at James Madison University, she got involved in local food production and conservation. This led to a career focused on environmental education where she has worked in school and community gardens, food access, agriculture, and K-12 science curriculum development. Outside of her work, she manages her local farmers market and community garden. Allyson is also an avid gardener, loves to cook and spend time outside with her husband and son.
Julie Walker completed her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on the influence of climate change on coastal ecosystems and investigating the potential for the advancement of coastal wetland management. Prior to her graduate studies Julie worked at the Chesapeake Bay Program, where she was a part of the Stewardship goal team aimed at increasing science literacy, public access, and land protection. In her current position as a Postdoctoral Researcher for the University of Massachusetts and USGS Woods Hole, she works on utilizing geospatial data to assess the influence of historical human modifications on salt marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise. In her spare time, Julie likes exploring nature, whether it’s paddleboarding, taking pictures while hiking, or walking her dog.
Born and raised in Fairfax, VA, Thomas is a George Mason alum, where he received his B.S. in Environmental Science. While at George Mason, Thomas was involved with Student Government, Greek Life, and was an Orientation Leader. After graduating, Thomas went on to work for the University of Chicago Marine Biological Laboratory as a lab assistant before moving to Baltimore to teach middle school science. He is now a teacher in Fairfax, VA. His hobbies include going to the movies, rock climbing, and volleyball.
Ben Rich is an AP Environmental Science and Physics teacher at the Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) in Montclair, NJ. After earning a BA in Physics at Colgate University he earned a MEd at the University of Maryland. As the Sustainability Coordinator and Green Roof Director at MKA, he leads both students and faculty in making the school more environmentally friendly and led the school to earn the Green Flag Award from Eco-Schools USA twice. During each summer from 2013-2018 he traversed the US on an electric motorcycle making Youtube videos to encourage quicker EV adoption. Now he drives a Tesla Model 3 across the US, with his latest trip traveling 21,000 miles in 2 months. He is the Co-Chair of the Montclair Environmental Commission, leading projects to reduce the carbon footprint of the town. In his free time he hikes mountains, paddle boards on rivers, and swing dances in NYC.
