Educator Ally Perks

• Connect with Our Global Network of Educators – Connect, share ideas, and get inspired through exclusive Ally channels like a Facebook group, virtual meetups, and free priority registration for our in-person educator weekend in June 2025.
• Classroom Zoom Meet and Greet – Allies can schedule a Zoom session with the Algalita team and founder, Capt. Charles Moore. Students will watch a 15-minute film about our expeditions on the ORV Alguita, followed by a Q&A with Capt. Charlie about his 30+ years of plastic pollution research.
• Get Connected to the Movement – Allies will have access to our partner network to learn how they can leverage the resources these organizations offer their community.  
• Updates – Be added to the exclusive Educator Ally email list and receive monthly emails packed with current news and movement updates.
• Contribute – Contribute to future Wayfinder Society classroom resources.
• Conference Support – Get Wayfinder Society materials, training for plastics education presentations, and potential funding to help with conference costs.
• Recognition – All Allies highlighted on Algalita’s website.
• Merch – Allies will receive a Wayfinder Society t-shirt, pin, and BYO Reusable Set 

Stay Tuned.

Applications for the 2024-25 Wayfinder Society Educator Ally cohort has closed. We will open the 2025-26 cohort application Fall 2025. Have questions? Please email emily@algalita.org. 

Lauren Twele

Lauren holds a BS in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Tampa. Passionate about conservation education, she’s worked as a science instructor at Tampa Bay Watch, The Florida Aquarium, and Seacamp Association, Inc., and served as a first mate on eco-tourism boats around Tampa Bay. Now, as the Education and Community Outreach Coordinator for Pinellas County Utilities, she develops programs on water conservation and resources. In her free time, Lauren enjoys assisting scuba classes as a Divemaster, dog sitting, paddle boarding, and exploring national parks.

Cecilia Frisardi

Cecilia is a 6th grade science teacher at Palos Verdes intermediate school. Her love of living things led her on a path from studying environmental conservation in college, to a role as an outdoor teacher in school gardens, and eventually to the classroom after earning a Master’s in science education from Stanford University. Outside of the classroom, Cecilia can be found exploring the incredible ecosystems of California and creating environmentally-inspired artwork that reflects her passion for the planet. Her mission as an educator is to nurture the next generation of environmental advocates by fostering connection to the Earth through inquiry-based science exploration and arts-integrated learning.

Kathleen Hughes

Kathleen Hughes is the Program Director at Teach Democracy (formerly the Constitutional Rights Foundation), a role she has held since 2022. In this role, Kathleen focuses on developing various educational programs and writing curriculum to promote civic engagement and understanding of democratic principles. Before joining Teach Democracy, Kathleen spent eight years as a high school STEM teacher, where she inspired students to explore the sciences and critically engage with the world around them.

Danny Duarte

Danny Duarte is a seasoned physics teacher at Lakewood High School in Long Beach, CA, with over 12 years of experience inspiring students through science. A native Angeleno, Danny has spent his life in Los Angeles, where he continues to fuel young minds with a passion for physics and a deep commitment to education. 

Sarah King

Sarah King has over 25 years of experience in education and is currently an adjunct English instructor at the University of Connecticut in Hartford. She earned her Connecticut Professional Educator Certification while teaching English at a private high school and is certified to teach First Year Writing as dual enrollment classes for UConn’s Early College Experience program. Throughout her classes, Sarah integrates environmentalism and sustainability into her curriculum, including the use of Plastic Ocean by Captain Charles Moore. In 2023, she co-created two lesson plans (Plastic Soup in a Brave New World and A Timeline of Throwaway Living and a Preconceived End Game) based off the book for Algalita’s Wayfinder Society program and encouraged her students to develop actionable plans for sustainability activism.

Brisa Rivas, MA

Brisa Rivas is a Secondary Science teacher at Montclair High School. She currently teaches AP Environmental Science, Environmental Science, and Biology.  She attended Cal Poly Pomona and received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Zoology. She also attained a Masters in Teacher Education from Claremont Graduate University.  Past careers include Inorganic Lab Analyst and Informal Science Educator.  She is a lifelong learner who thrives in teaching students about caring for the environment and really influencing the next generation of students. 

Alexa Simeone, M.A.

Alexa Simeone is a passionate educator and founder of Lele Art Lab, a mobile, art-based environmental education program that transforms ocean trash into creative opportunities to inspire the next generation of scientists. By combining the power of art with the practice of science, she empowers students through hands-on design challenges that drive environmental action. She’s committed to making science learning more accessible, inclusive, and engaging. Committed to making science learning more accessible, inclusive, and engaging, she champions diverse voices for a greener planet and cleaner oceans. 

Connect with Alex on Instagram 

Ruben Romero

Ruben Romero is a middle school teacher at South Gate Middle School in the Los Angeles Unified School District who has been teaching for over 25 years. Currently, Ruben teaches Integrated Science and Environmental Studies for 8th graders. Since 2023, he has been utilizing Wayfinder Society’s innovative classroom resources to enrich his curriculum, while also actively participating in Algalita’s in-person programs to bring hands-on environmental education into his classroom.

Jillian L. Blatti, Ph.D.

Jillian L. Blatti, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences at Pasadena City College, leading undergraduate research in bio/nanotechnology and creating equity-focused STEM education. As a graduate student at UC San Diego, she researched engineering fatty acid biosynthesis in microalgae for sustainable bioenergy and developed STEM curricula for underrepresented students. Jillian is a Co-PI on an NSF Future Manufacturing grant, collaborating with Caltech, UCLA, and UCSB to develop sustainable nucleic acid-based manufacturing technologies. She also explores the art-science interface, including DNA nanotechnology and natural paint creation. Through community-based learning, her students analyze L.A. Watershed microplastics and engage in social advocacy.

Stephen Kos

Stephen Kos is a dual-certified, K-12 licensed educator who teaches middle school STEAM classes in New York City.  He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from American University in Washington, D.C., but just as importantly, became a PADI-certified scuba diver there!  Discovering the underwater world only amplified his passion for protecting nature, and he today integrates climate change and sustainability education into every subject he teaches.  A Math for America Master Teacher, Academy for Teachers mentor, and Urban Advantage Fellow, Stephen loves to work with other educators as much as with his students! 

Connect with Stephen on Instagram and TikTok

Clinton Ezeigwe

Clinton Ezeigwe, a Nigerian attorney and Master of Global Affairs candidate at the University of Notre Dame, recently served as a Jim Rubin International Fellow at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) in Washington, D.C., focusing on Extended Producer Responsibility in the international plastics project. He coordinates Nigeria’s #ClaimYourWaterRights campaign and previously led safe water and climate justice initiatives as Campaign Manager at the Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation. As an environmental educator, Clinton founded the PREMPPiN initiative to engage youth in tackling plastic pollution through workshops and after-school programs. He is dedicated to Human Rights, Environmental Justice, and Sustainability.

Connect with Clinton at on X/Twitter, @clintonezeigwe

Rebecca Brewer

Rebecca Brewer is a national award-winning biology educator in Michigan and coauthor of the textbook Biology Now. She has developed resources for Science Friday, PBS NewsHour, the National Center for Science Education, MiniOne Systems, the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and BSCS. She also serves as a Teacher Ambassador for the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) and for the Society for Science to promote research and innovation education, and she is the Michigan director for the National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award Program.

Connect with Rebecca on X/Twitter, @brewerbiology

Mark Yuschak

Mark Yuschak is an independent consultant specializing in green building, energy efficiency, and sustainability for multi-family and single-family homes. He is a senior adjunct instructor at Kean University and Raritan Valley Community College, teaching Environmental Studies and Sustainability, and has developed curriculum for these institutions and CUNY. His recent research focuses on energy efficiency in historic buildings, such as the Flatiron Building. Mark holds a B.A. in Earth Science, a Master’s in Environmental Studies, and various certifications, including BPI and LEED Green Associate. He is also a volunteer scientist and passionate environmentalist.

Lara Cox

Lara Cox is the Education Coordinator for Missouri River Relief in Columbia, MO, where she fosters connections between people and the Missouri River. With eight years of experience teaching English Learners in Missouri, Iowa, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands, she understands the importance of connecting students to their environment. Her passion for environmental education was ignited while chaperoning student trips to the Tetons and the Smoky Mountains. Growing up a mile from the Missouri River, Lara feels a personal connection to her work, striving to bring Mid-Missouri’s youth to the river. She is dedicated to promoting equitable access to the outdoors and environmental justice for the flourishing of all ecosystems. 

Christina Torres  

As a middle school science teacher, Christina is dedicated to sparking curiosity and instilling a sense of environmental stewardship in her students. Her love for the outdoors and time spent with her family inspire her passion for teaching about the natural world. By joining the Wayfinder Society Educator Ally program, Christina aims to give her students meaningful access to environmental education, empowering them to engage with critical issues and become the next generation of environmental advocates.

Sionainne Leslie O’Neill

Sionainne Leslie O’Neill is a PhD student at Antioch’s Graduate School for Leadership & Change. Her research and teaching focus on dance and movement as a language for building regenerative communities. Her intention is to facilitate spaces where fully embodied learning styles can foster a greater sense of connection with our “Nature family,” supporting the development of nature-centered leaders who will engage in global activism for environmental justice and healing. Following a career in ballet, Sionainne now sees dance as a path to rediscovering ourselves and our relationship with nature. Her goal is that, through rediscovering our moving relationship with the environment, we can find ways to heal our planet and ourselves together.

Connect with Sionainne on LinkedIn 

Christine Casali M. Ed. (she/her)

Christine Casali is a high school science teacher. She is married to a firefighter and is the mother of three children, ages 13, 10, and 8. She loves spending time outdoors, whether running, hiking, or sitting on the beach with a book. Christine earned her undergraduate degree in marine biology and environmental chemistry from Roger Williams University, where she led a beach cleanup as part of the International Coastal Cleanup. After graduation, she interned at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, focusing on leaving guests with an environmental message. Upon returning to Massachusetts, she began teaching high school science near Boston, where she now primarily teaches marine science and AP environmental science. While teaching, she earned her master’s degree from UMass Boston. 

Connect with Christine on Instagram

Cynthia Martin

Cynthia Martin is a science teacher at Isbell Middle School in Santa Paula, California who has been teaching for over 28 years. She is passionate about experiential learning and environmental connection. Her students explore their local watershed, focusing on topics of social justice, environmental awareness and stewardship.

Kristen Schulte

Kristen Schulte has a Master’s of Science in Natural Science Education and Environmental and Natural Resources and has been working in environmental education since 2006. Her passion for environmental education was first ignited during a trail crew in the North Cascades, WA.  Ever since this experience, she has felt a drive to connect people to the environment while promoting stewardship.  As the Education Director at Missouri River Relief, she works to advance their mission of connecting people to the Missouri River, emphasizing education.