February 19 – Learning Beyond Four Walls: Panel Discussion

Aimee Ferguson is currently a third grade classroom teacher in the City School District of New Rochelle. She has taught various grades during her years as an educator and her philosophy has remained the same: academic success is achievable when curriculum is differentiated, student confidence is strengthened and learning is fun. She enjoys collaboration with colleagues and families in the community and with educators as far-flung as Taiwan and Japan. At the center of Aimee’s pedagogical approach lies her passion for STEAM. Whether she’s guiding her third-grade students through hands-on science experiments or having discussions to align with standards, her aim is to ignite a deep sense of curiosity about the world around them.

Being part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will continue her desire to explore and collaborate with a wide-range of individuals who strive for special outdoor experiences!

Kiandra Mitchell is a full-time science and birding educator for junior high school students in urban Anaheim.  Additionally, she teaches part-time for the Emeritus Institute at Saddleback College, leading “Birds of the World” courses for adults. She’s recently begun organizing and guiding domestic and international birding tours, gradually letting birding take over her life. When she’s not teaching or birding, Kiandra attempts to keep tabs on her nearly adult daughters, neither of whom has any interest in birds. 
Kiandra identified her first bird in 2014 using an online field guide called the Natural History of Orange County. A few months later, she was introduced to eBird and the Merlin app, both of which are now tools she uses with her students. 

Bethany Ricks is an experienced naturalist who has worked in various educational and environmental roles in organizations such as the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Minnesota Zoo, and Tamarack Nature Center. Bethany has a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources with an emphasis on Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Bethany’s expertise includes teaching, curriculum development, program management, and environmental interpretation.

As a professional naturalist, Bethany is committed to helping people cultivate wonder at the natural world. In an age of Google, identification is a wonderful skill, but Bethany prioritizes curiosity is an even more important one. From her early days as an interpreter in an aquarium, to working on both the East and West Coasts of the U.S., to teaching outdoor skills in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, the common thread in Bethany’s teaching has been helping people to slow down and notice the small things.

Jeffrey is an award-winning educator.  He is a Princeton University Distinguished Secondary School Teacher Finalist, a nominee for the NJ Teacher of the Year Governor’s Award, a fellow at the Academy for Teachers, and he is the winner of the Bergen County Audubon Society’s Dick Engsberg Teacher Appreciation Award. 

Jeffrey Train is the founder of Mr. Train’s Life Lessons for Better Birding & Beyond:  a curriculum-driven program seeking to inspire families and young naturalists to discover the wonder of birds.  Mr. Train welcomes viewers into his world of wonder by introducing them to the birds inhabiting his neighborhood (Hoboken, NJ).  Through lessons combining nature’s mysteries and positive psychology practices, Mr. Train empowers people to discover the joy and gratitude surrounding their communities.