About us

A regional partnership for environmental learning.

Founded in 1995, Partnership for Environmental Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing environmental literacy, habitat restoration, and community-based ecological education.

The organization is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Our story

The Partnership began as a coalition of classroom teachers, park naturalists, and watershed scientists who shared a simple conviction: students learn ecology best when they study the living systems outside their schoolhouse door. What started as a handful of weekend workshops grew into a regional organization serving educators across more than a dozen districts.

Today our staff and partner instructors deliver year-round programming in forests, wetlands, schoolyards, and rivers — all grounded in the principle that local landscapes are the most powerful classroom we have.

Values

Place-based

We teach the ecology of where we are — not abstractions.

Equitable access

Every learner deserves environmental literacy, regardless of zip code.

Scientific rigor

Our programs reflect current ecological science and standards.

Community partnership

We work with — not for — the communities we serve.

Board of Directors

Our volunteer board provides governance, financial oversight, and strategic direction.

Dr. Marisol Tavares
Board Chair
Professor of Ecology, regional university
James Okafor
Vice Chair
Former director, county parks department
Linda Hartwell
Treasurer
CPA, nonprofit financial governance
Dr. Aaron Yellowtail
Secretary
Watershed scientist and educator
Priya Ramaswamy
Director
K–12 curriculum specialist
Tomas Reyes
Director
Community organizer and restoration practitioner
Nondiscrimination

Our programs are open to all without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation.