LAURA JACKSON

Lhjackso4@gmail.com • (802) 734-6323 • Teaching Portfolio: https://laurajacksoned.weebly.com/

Objective:
To engage students with science and the natural world through project-based learning and meaningful
leadership experiences, emphasizing problem solving for a more equitable and environmentally conscious
world.

Education:
Antioch University New England, M.S.
Environmental Studies, Life Sciences Teaching Certificate
Certificate in Climate Change Education August 2019- May 2021

University of Vermont, B.S.

Environmental Studies and Community & International Development
Academic Focus: Sustainability Studies
3.73 GPA May 2010-May 2014
School for International Training, Ecuador
Comparative Ecology and Conservation
Gilman International Scholarship recipient September-December 2012

Teaching Experience:

Science Teacher | Green Mountain Valley School, Waitsfield, VT August 2021-present

• Teach Grade 10 General Chemistry.
• Teach Grade 7 & 8 Earth Science
• Develop and implement hands-on labs and field-based science experiments for all grade levels.

Science Instructor/Sea Kayak Guide | International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbank July 2021
• Manage the safety and wellbeing of a group of ten 16-17 year-old girls while sea kayaking and conducting scientific research
for 14 days.
• Design and implement marine ecology science curriculum and field-based learning aligned with NGSS standards
• Manage field-based research projects in the Kachemak Bay in partnership with the NOAA Alaska labs.
• Facilitate hands-on, inquiry-based science, art, and leadership activities.
• Teach technical paddling skills, wilderness leadership, and navigation.
• Incorporate place-based learning with a focus on blending science and art with indiginous knowledge of Alaska’s Cook Inlet.

STEM Teacher | Vermont Day School, Shelburne, VT January-June 2021

• Design authentic project-based curriculum for 5th-7th grade STEM class.
• Manage students in and outside of the classroom
• Facilitate hands-on, inquiry-based experiments and labs.
• Lead students in 6-8 week research-to-action projects.
• Design and implement citizen science projects in partnership with foresters, engineers, conservation organizations, and
local non-profits for meaningful and relevant educational experiences and stewardship opportunities.

Science Teaching Assistant | Mount Mansfield High School, Jericho, VT January-May 2021
• Assistant teacher for one section of Honors Biology and two sections of Integrated Earth Systems.
• Manage groups of up to 24 high school students both in class and virtually.
• Facilitate hands-on, inquiry-based science experiments and labs.
• Assess students through progress reports and weekly homework assignments, lab assignments, written exams, and
 projects.
• Design and implement biology and Earth science lessons grounded in real-world, problem and project-based learning.

Project Director, Wild Treasures: Climate Change | Antioch University New England, Keene, NH
August 2019-May 2021
• Design authentic project-based curriculum for a yearlong climate change unit.
• Teach students about climate change core concepts, research methods, proposal writing, and project implementation.
• Lead students in research-to-action proposal writing to be presented to their school board.
• Manage grant funds for this yearlong project and allocate funds to specific project proposals for implementation.

Educator and Citizen Science Coordinator | Rozalia Project, Burlington, VT & Maine Coast September 2020-June 2021
• Collaborate to develop ocean conservation and beach clean-up workshops.
• Develop research and expedition-based curriculum about microplastics, marine ecology, and watershed science.
• Design lessons using 3-D printing, mapping, and underwater drone technologies for ocean plastics education.
• Plan to guide sea kayak and sailing “zero waste” expeditions in the spring and summer of 2022 with an emphasis on
marine conservation and marine debris clean-up.
• Collaborate on grant writing to support ongoing stewardship expeditions, ocean literacy and watershed curriculum, and
year-round partnerships with k-12 schools throughout New England.

Science Teacher & Trip Leader | Kroka Expeditions, Marlow, NH August 2020-November 2020
• Taught Forest Ecology of New England for 10 college gap year students, ages 19-21.
• Explored the comparative ecology and geology of New Hampshire and Vermont forests on a 9-day bike-packing
expedition.
• Incorporated storytelling, group fieldwork, and individual tree ID journals to teach the ecological history and land-use
history of the forests we traveled through.
• Led 9 days of bike packing, teaching wilderness leadership skills such as navigation, cooking over fire, group
management, and wilderness medicine.

English Teacher & Trip Leader | Explorations Academy, Bellingham, WA and Vietnam December 2018-January 2019
• Taught english and history during a semester abroad in Vietnam with twelve high school students.
• Managed travel risks including overnight bus transportation, border crossings, nighttime and daytime city navigation,
and foreign language barriers, among others.
• Integrated lessons on cultural competency and cultural immersion throughout the trip.
• Helped guide a four-day trek through the jungle caves of Phong Nha National Park.
• Managed the physical and emotional challenges of all students throughout a month of travel and study from Hanoi to Ho
Chi Minh City.

Substitute Teacher | Bellingham School District, Bellingham, WA and Bozeman, MT November 2015-May 2019
• Taught k-12 students throughout the school district in subjects including AP biology, English, art, physical education,
history, science, and math.
• Provided instructional support for k-12 special needs students in subjects including science, social studies, math, and
language arts.
• Designed interdisciplinary lesson plans to address individual learning needs and promote independence in students.
• Managed classrooms of up to 20 students.
• Tracked student progress, adapted curriculum for individual student needs, and wrote daily substitute reports.
• Mitigated risk and managed escalated behavior from students with mild to severe social and emotional needs.

Program Coordinator and Environmental Educator | Wild Whatcom, Bellingham, WA August 2015-November 2018
• Led youth ages 8-18 on outdoor excursions, environmental conservation projects, and 4-12 day wilderness expeditions.
Program Coordinator of girl’s summer camps. Responsible for risk management planning, curriculum development, trip
logistics planning, and staff hiring.
• Program coordinator of Stepping Up, a leadership program for at-risk teenage girls ages 14-17 with an emphasis on
confidence building, outdoor adventure, and stewardship skills building.
 • Developed marketing and outreach materials to promote community events and seasonal programs.
• Acted as the liaison between local organizations and Wild Whatcom educators to coordinate community service
projects.
• Planned and implemented staff meetings, staff orientation trainings, and community events.

Paraeducator | Bellingham Public School District, Bellingham, WA November 2015-August 2016

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• Provided instructional support to 7 and 8 grade special needs students in all subjects.
• Designed interdisciplinary lesson plans to address individual learning needs and promote independence in students.
• Tracked student progress and collaborated with teachers to ensure positive academic growth.

Farm-Based Educator | Shelburne Farms Education Center, Shelburne, VT January-June 2014

• Taught farm-based environmental education to K-12 students from schools throughout New England.
• Developed and implemented daily lessons on local ecology, sustainable farming, animal tracking, and local watershed
studies.

Teaching Assistant | Community University Partnerships & Service Learning Office, Burlington, VT January-May 2014
• Taught a graduate level Community-Based Research service learning class at the University of Vermont.
• Delivered weekly lessons to students with PowerPoint presentations, guest speakers, and hands-on activities.
• Organized and led meetings with students and community partners to plan and carry out various service projects.
• Managed partnerships between graduate students and local organizations for the completion of four service-learning
projects.
• Graded student papers and provided general student support throughout the semester.

Guiding Experience:
Sea Kayak Guide and Naturalist | Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures, Bellingham, WA May 2017-August 2019
• Led half day, full day, multi-day, and bioluminescent paddle excursions throughout the San Juan Islands.
• Responsible for gear packing, trip planning & navigation, and outdoor food preparation for all excursions.
• Taught technical skills including navigation and currents, paddle strokes, boat entry, wet exits, and boat anatomy.
• Incorporated place-based geology, marine biology, and natural history into every excursion.
• Drove 15-passenger vans with kayak trailers.
• Created three in-depth staff educational guides to teach staff about marine flora and fauna, natural and indigenous
history, and geology/ecology of the San Juan Islands and Salish Sea.

Leadership Expedition Instructor | United World College, Montezuma, NM May-June 2018

• Coordinated gear, food, and trip logistics for a 14-day leadership training backpacking expedition in the Pecos Wilderness.
• Taught NOLS and general wilderness leadership curriculum on the following topics: map & compass navigation; LNT
principals; wilderness first aid; evacuation procedures; forest and stream ecology; judgment and decision-making; group
management; leadership styles; environmental ethics; risk management; self awareness and hygiene.
• Led twelve 16-19 year-old students on and off trail through the Pecos Wilderness and Carson National Forest. Carried out
a forced evacuation of the group from the Pecos Wilderness to the Carson National Forest due to immediate danger posed by
local forest fires.

Adaptive Ski Instructor | Eagle Mount Bozeman, Bozeman, MT February-April 2018

• Taught weekly ski lessons to students with cognitive, physical, and mental disabilities.
• Addressed the needs of each individual student through creative lesson planning and use of props, games, and need
specific ski gear.
• Incorporated individual student goals and IEP plans into lessons to make the learning experience fun and effective.
• Tracked and monitored each student to ensure that progress made in lessons was commensurate with individual learning
goals.

Ocean Sailing & Sea Kayak Instructor | Community Boating Center, Bellingham, WA May 2014-October 2015
 • Taught sailing and sea kayaking to students of all ages.
• Taught adult kayak rescue techniques and marine navigation classes.
• Coordinated youth paddlesports summer camps.

Summer Camp Counselor | Shaffer’s High Sierra Camp, Sattley, CA May-September 2013
• Rocks and Ropes Activities Specialist: Taught technical rope course and rock climbing skills to campers ages 10-18.
• Backpacking Specialist: Planned and led 2-5 day backpacking trips in the Sierra Buttes.
• Mountain Bike Assistant Activity Specialist: Led day and half day mountain bike excursions and taught bike technique
and maintenance.

TREK Freshman Orientation Leader | University of Vermont, Burlington, VT September 2011-2012

• Led weeklong hiking and canoeing trips for freshmen with a focus on group development, collaborative leadership and
outdoor skills building.
• Facilitated team-building and individual skills-building activities to encourage participants to step out of their comfort
zones and into leadership roles throughout the trip.

Conservation & Field Research Experience:

Educator and Marine Conservation Guide | Surfrider Foundation, Bellingham, WA May 2018-August 2019
• Taught marine ecology to k-12 graders throughout Whatcom County and beyond in partnership with the Community
Boating Center, Bellingham Public School District, and Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures.
• Led beach and ocean cleanup projects with youth and adults throughout the San Juan Islands in partnership with the
Surfrider Foundations local branch.
• Attended meetings and participated in community outreach events to promote marine conservation efforts.

Citizen Scientist and Field Researcher | Adventure Scientists, Bozeman, MT (remote work) May-November 2018
• Tracked, captured, and collected data on butterfly species and their host flowers in the North Cascades for the Adventure
Scientist’s Pollinator Project.
• Identified and photographed over 100 different flowers and 10 different butterfly species at Yellow Aster Butte, a
designated data collection field site.
• Collected leaf samples, documented tree DBH measurements, and took site-specific photographs of big leaf maples for
the Timber Tracking Project.

Citizen Scientist and Educator | Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Bellingham, WA June 2016-February 2017
• Taught k-12 environmental education lessons on stream ecology, marine ecology, and salmon protection.
• Organized and oversaw river restoration projects, including native planting for erosion control and water quality testing.
• Participated in marine shore, estuary, and stream cleanup initiatives throughout Whatcom County to promote a healthy
watershed.

Certifications:
Climate Change Educator Certificate; National Geographic Educator Certificate; Wilderness First Responder; CPR;
American Avalanche Institute Level 1; Permaculture Certificate; Crisis Prevention Intervention; Right Response Training;
Brigid Collins Darkness to Light Stewards of Children training.