Meet Our Educators

CBF educators are some of the best in their field. They have first-rate experience working at the largest environmental education program in North America. Meet them and see for yourself why they are leaders in the industry.

Adam Dunn

Top Staff. Top Quality.

Operations | Professional Learning Team | Student Leadership Team | Program Educators

Focus

The focus of environmental education at CBF is to instill in all participants a sense of responsibility, ownership, and stewardship toward the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and all of the watershed's inhabitants. CBF's education programs educate teachers and students through a learning pathway of interrelated components, including one and multi-day field experiences, student leadership and action, and the teacher training program, Chesapeake Classrooms.

Safety

We are committed to the safety of all our participants and, as such, we ensure that our educators have professional certifications and annual training to lead safe field programs. All of our educators receive the following certifications:

Wilderness First Responder Medical Certification
Infant-Child-Adult CPR
American Canoe Association Basic River Rescue and Moving Water certification
Boater Safety
Community Water Safety
All CBF Captains hold a U.S. Coast Guard license

Certification

Certification requirements for CBF field educators and captains:

Wilderness First Responder
CPR (Infant, Child, Adult)
Basic Water Rescue
American Canoe Association: Basic River Rescue and Moving Water
Boater Safety
Captains only: Maintaining a USCG captain's license and FCC license

Staff

Vice President of Education—Tom Ackerman

Operations

Director of Education Operations—Paul Willey
Associate Director of Education Operations for Recruitment & Development—Claire Jaeger
Associate Director of Education Operations for Finance & Scheduling—Jo Shallcross
Manager of Education Operations—Caitlin Youngk
Education Operations Coordinator—Cindy Ryder
Education Operations Coordinator—Drew Pizzala

Professional Learning Team

Director of Professional Learning—Karen Mullin
Education Engagement Manager —Norah Carlos
D.C. Metro Outreach Educator—Alexis Dickerson
Virginia Teacher Professional Development Coordinator—Cindy Duncan
Pennsylvania Education Outreach Coordinator—Tarrea Potter
Teacher Training Coordinator—Erin O'Neal

Student Leadership Team

Maryland Student Leadership Coordinator—Megan Fink
Virginia Student Leadership Coordinator—Rick Mittler
Pennsylvania Student Leadership Coordinator—Kassie Fenn

Program Educators

Director of Field Programs—Deidra Floyd
Field Senior Manager for MD, PA, DC—Dave Gelenter
Virginia Field Senior Manager—Ken Slazyk
Island Senior Manager—Jeff Varnon
Island General Manager/Captain/Educator—George "Cook" Cannon
Senior Educator for the Bay—Bill Portlock

ARTHUR SHERWOOD

Arthur Sherwood Environmental Education Program—Tiffany Granberg
Arthur Sherwood Environmental Education Program—Ronnie Anderson

BALTIMORE HARBOR

Baltimore Harbor Environmental Education Program—Claire Cambardella
Baltimore Harbor Environmental Education Program—Ben Carver

ELISABETH REED CARTER

Elisabeth Reed Carter Virginia Canoe Environmental Education Program—Kathlean Davis
Elisabeth Reed Carter Virginia Canoe Environmental Education Program—Blair Blanchette

HAMPTON ROADS

Hampton Roads Environmental Education Program—Yancey Powell
Hampton Roads Environmental Education Program—Jimmy Sollner

JAMES RIVER

James River Environmental Education Program—Caleigh Remocaldo
James River Environmental Education Program—Josh Gilliand

KAREN NOONAN

Karen Noonan Memorial Environmental Education Program—Katie Mullen
Karen Noonan Memorial Environmental Education Program—Steve Coffman

PENNSYLVANIA STAR

Pennsylvania StAR Environmental Education Program—Liz Glaston
Pennsylvania StAR Environmental Education Program —Liz Yocom

PHILIP MERRILL

Philip Merrill Environmental Education Program—Kellie Rogers-Fiala
Philip Merrill Environmental Education Program —Kris Belessis

PORT ISOBEL

Port Isobel East Environmental Education Program—Rachel Natoli
Port Isobel East Environmental Education Program —Michael Diehl
Port Isobel East Environmental Education Program—Cullen Dolson
Port Isobel West Environmental Education Program—Morgan Jones
Port Isobel West Environmental Education Program—Larry Laird, Jr.
Port Isobel West Environmental Education Program—Lucas Scott