Leadership
The Education Operating Committee provides governance and leadership to Project Learning Tree. The committee’s responsibilities include:
- Recommending goals and policies for PLT and other educational programs
- Developing annual operating plans and budgets for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) Board of Directors’ approval
- Assisting with fundraising activities
- Participating in PLT’s programs and activities
- Initiating strategic planning for PLT and other SFI education programs
PLT National Staff
Josh Brankman
VP, Education
josh.brankman@forests.org
Josh leads the education team at SFI advancing Project Learning Tree’s environmental education, forest literacy, and career pathways programs while growing the scale, reach, and impact of PLT. He is responsible for establishing and delivering on PLT’s strategic direction as well as for developing, integrating, and implementing US government stakeholder relations. Josh also oversees national program operations and governance, while developing and nurturing relationships at state, national, and global scales. Josh works collaboratively with the SFI Career Pathways team to scale the reach of educational materials to grow the green job sector. He has over 20 years of experience in education including executive-level positions with a national organization confronting systemic barriers to higher education and a leading experience-based outdoor education non-profit. Josh has also worked as a high school teacher and principal. He holds a Master of Arts in educational administration and leadership from the University of California, Berkley and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Princeton University. A 25-year resident of San Francisco, outside of work, Josh enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors with his family camping or playing at the beach.
Christine Leduc
VP, Communications and Government Relations
Christine.Leduc@forests.org
Christine leads SFI’s binational communications team, which also includes Project Learning Tree and Project Learning Tree Canada. She oversees strategic communications while also developing and implementing a range of government and public relations activities. Christine is a Registered Professional Forester with a decade of experience in forestry, policy, communications, public affairs, issues management, and more recently Indigenous relations. She is fluent in English and French and holds a Master of Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. Christine is also a Forests Ontario board member, and she was recognized as a Top 10 Under 40 by Canadian Forest Industries magazine. Outside work, Christine spends as much time as she can enjoying the forests of northern Ontario.
Ana Leirner
Senior Director, Professional Learning and Education Products
Ana.Leirner@forests.org
Ana designs and develops high-quality professional development materials and programming to prepare educators to integrate PLT environmental education materials into their teaching. Ana is focused on helping educators become comfortable teaching outdoors in urban, suburban, and rural environments. Ana creates engaging and hands-on online courses and supports the PLT network in delivering in-person professional development using best practices in educator professional development. Previously she worked as an instructional designer in various industries, designing online professional development courses for a diverse audience, including K-8 STEM teachers in Latin America. Ana holds an Ed.M. in Educational Media and Technology from Boston University, an MBA from Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo, Brazil, and a B.A. in Psychology from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo.
Jennifer Byerly
Senior Director, Communications
Jennifer.Byerly@forests.org
Jennifer supports both PLT and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s communications and marketing efforts, helping tell the story of PLT’s impact. As the former Digital Organizer for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership in Washington, DC, she managed campaigns with partner organizations to support shared missions and created digital content and online advertising to support natural resources advocacy. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Christopher Newport University.
Megan Annis
Director, Sales and Marketing
Megan.Annis@forests.org
Megan leads SFI’s marketing strategy to bring Project Learning Tree (PLT) and PLT Canada environmental education, forest literacy, and career pathways products to market across the US and Canada. She creates and manages targeted campaigns to increase engagement, utilization, and sales of PLT resources. Megan also contributes compelling strategic communications content that broadly supports PLT’s environmental education goals and SFI’s mission to advance sustainability through forest-focused collaborations. Megan believes working with youth is the key to building a sustainable future. Her passion for youth-focused environmental action runs in her family. After noticing trash piling up in local parks, Megan and her young sons formed the Folsom Clean-Up Bugs to host monthly community clean‑ups.
Ellen Long
Director, Education and Forest Literacy
Ellen.Long@forests.org
Ellen focuses on growing future forest and conservation leaders through Project Learning Tree Canada’s environmental education and forest literacy programming. She leads the implementation of national programs to grow PLT’s reach and impact across Canada. Ellen believes that the best way to expand PLT’s national presence is by engaging directly with educators and school counselors and by nurturing relationships with school districts and other strategic partners. Ellen has over 10 years of experience designing, implementing, and leading education programs with leading non-profits in Canada. She holds a Master and Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. Outside work, you will find Ellen in her garden, chasing her kids around a local park, or riding her bike.
Kate Nagle
Director, Education & PLT Network
Kate.Nagle@forests.org
Kate plays a key role in strategic and programmatic operations at Project Learning Tree® (PLT). She advises on and implements strategies to deepen the relationships between the PLT network and SFI-certified organizations and SFI Implementation Committees. Kate also works directly with the PLT network of state and international partners to strengthen the implementation of PLT programs. She takes the lead in integrating team members and identifying training and support needs to ensure efficient and timely development of resources and program delivery. Prior to joining SFI, Kate was Program Director at the Chemical Educational Foundation where she engaged a national network of volunteers to reform their educational programs to focus on equity, student experience, and impact. She spent the first eight years of her career as a classroom teacher and professional development leader, working with students with special needs and students from historically underserved communities. Kate holds a Master of Education in secondary chemistry from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in conservation chemistry from Sarah Lawrence College.
Rocco Saracina
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Rocco.Saracina@forests.org
Rocco develops strategies and builds partnerships advancing an appreciation for nature and enhancing connections among healthy communities to nature-based education, social and emotional wellness, and environmental conservation. His experience spans a decade in the conservation and environmental education sector and features a wide breadth of programmatic experiences and network connections. Rocco serves on the executive leadership team of the Society of American Forester’s (SAF) Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. Before joining SFI in 2013, he conducted fire ecology field studies as a U.S. Forest Service technician and stream geomorphology and habitat assessments with an environmental consulting firm. He holds an M.S. in Natural Resource Sustainability from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Humboldt State University.
Dominic Weeks
Manager, Career Readiness
Dominic.Weeks@forests.org
As part of the SFI Career Pathways Team, Dominic plays a key role in building a diverse and resilient workforce in the sustainability and conservation sector through SFI’s mentorship programming. Currently, he is focusing on scaling up mentorship programing to serve youth across the US and Canada. Prior to joining SFI, Dominic helped over 3,000 individuals find their career path. He also has a plethora of experience in career development specific to BIPOC and disenfranchised communities, program management, and community engagement. Dominic holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Bowie State University and a project manager certification from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Outside work, Dominic loves to birdwatch and explore new caves and hiking trails.
Clayton Whittle
Manager, Online Learning
Clayton.Whittle@forests.org
Clayton develops and updates online courses and green-job tools and resources for PLT and assists in the analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation of online and blended courses, including learner analysis, storyboards, video scripts, job aids, and assessments. Clayton has a strong interest and expertise in gamification and has 14 years of experience as a classroom educator and learning designer. He holds a Master’s degree in Communications from Texas A&M University and is a PhD candidate specializing in environmental education design at Penn State University.
Shuya Huang-Young
Senior Coordinator, Education Systems
Shuya.Huang@forests.org
Shuya supports green career pathways for diverse youth and helps form strong partnerships with forest and conservation sector employers. She enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors in her free time. Prior to joining PLT, Shuya worked as a biologist at a ecological consulting firm, a field researcher at a Chinese environmental NGO, and organized several events at the United Nations Conventions. Fluent in English and Mandarin, and practicing French, Shuya has a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Toronto.
James Thordarson
Senior Coordinator, Forest Education
James.Thordarson@forests.org
James’s inspiration to work at SFI was being able to fill a role where he provides Forest education to anyone and everyone who wants to learn more about the natural world around them. Working with youth is a highlight for James and he knows this work matters because forests are the future and so are the young people who will steward forests for generations to come. James has a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario and has completed all requirements for his Master of Science in Forestry, from Lakehead University. While pursuing his Masters, he served as a graduate assistant, teaching students and helping to manage curriculum. Outside work, James enjoys tree climbing and working on his hobby farm.
Kelvin Braun
Coordinator, Graphic Design & Media
Kelvin.Braun@forests.org
Kelvin works on social media and reporting, graphic design and video, and Indigenous relations communications. He brings a sense of mission and passion for sustainability and the betterment of people to all of his work. Kelvin earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication and media studies from the University of Calgary. Prior to joining SFI, he was with Mosaic North America as an e-commerce advisor working on the Canada Digital Adoption Program through the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. This work helped Indigenous-led small-to-medium-sized businesses build a digital presence, including e commerce solutions and digital marketing campaigns. Kelvin enjoys travelling to the mountains on weekends to hike and take photos. During the warmer seasons he and his family camp and explore many of the national and provincial parks in Alberta and British Columbia. Kelvin is Cree, born in Winnipeg, with familial roots in Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Lola Ilelaboye
Coordinator, PLT Data Systems & Operations
lola.Ilelaboye@forests.org
Lola supports and collaborates with SFI education team members across the US and Canada. Together, they work to achieve the goals of the SFI Education Pillar primarily through supporting SFI’s education program Project Learning Tree (PLT). Through PLT, SFI advances environmental literacy, stewardship, and career pathways using trees and forests as windows on the world. Lola’s work encompasses network relationship management and operational system priorities, program research and strategy, and delivery and reporting. Lola also prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in all her work and gives priority to Indigenous ways of knowing in developing, executing, and communicating all SFI-led or partnered projects. Prior to joining SFI, Lola worked for leading global media and technology companies. She also has experience in the museum, film, and music sectors. Lola holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba. Away from work she enjoys travelling, all things arts and culture related, and spending time with her young son.
Lizzie Mafrici
Communications Coordinator
Lizzie.Mafrici@forests.org
Lizzie is a multi-disciplinary communications professional with profound passion and appreciation for nature and environmental education. She leverages SFI’s brand positioning across all communications and marketing efforts, with particular emphasis on drafting social media content and writing articles. In Lizzie’s previous role at a full-service research, public affairs, and communications agency, she supported client teams across a wide range of communications and public relations functions. Her experiences living in Amazonian Brazil and embarking on a six month post-graduation road trip to national parks across the US led her to pursue a Master of Professional Studies in Applied Entomology from the University of Maryland. Outside work, Lizzie enjoys tending to her backyard pollinator garden.
Maggie McBride
Coordinator, PLT Network
Maggie.McBride@forests.org
Maggie supports PLT’s dynamic network of state and international partners, including over 80 state agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, trade associations, and others. She provides project management leadership and works collaboratively with PLT State Programs on the promotion, delivery, and dissemination of PLT’s curriculum materials, professional development, and other initiatives to grow the scale and reach of PLT to advance environmental literacy, stewardship, and career pathways. Outside work, Maggie enjoys playing the piano, hiking, and kayaking. Maggie has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Northern Colorado, Certificates in Forestry, Natural Resources, and Wildlife, and recently finished her Master’s in Environmental Resource Policy at The George Washington University.
Jaclyn Stallard
Curriculum Advisor and Network Lead
Jaclyn.Stallard@forests.org
Jackie oversees the next generation of PLT’s PreK-12 environmental education materials, as well as other instructional materials and resources. She also directs strategic alliances that advance curriculum implementation with other environmental education and sustainability resource providers at the national level. Jackie presents and exhibits PLT’s curriculum and SFI programs at education and conservation conferences across the United States. Three curricula Jackie developed have won Teachers’ Choice Awards, and she regularly serves as an Envirothon Judge for national competitions. Jackie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University in Massachusetts.
PLT Internship Program
Learn more about opportunities to join PLT as an intern here.