Instructor

Special Needs

 

Mary Ann is originally from central California and currently resides in Ashland, OR. She graduated from Humboldt State University in 2006 with a Bachelors of Science in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation and from Southern Oregon University in 2009 with a Masters in Education and an endorsement in Special Education. She is a licensed special educator and is "highly-qualified" in the state of Oregon.

Mary Ann brings a background in the sciences, environmental education, outdoor adventure, and community activism to her work. She believes that the outdoor classroom is the ultimate teacher and the bearer of the most meaningful lessons. Throughout college, Mary Ann supported adults and children with a variety of disabilities and she understands the value in creating universally-accessible environments that ensure safety and belongingness for all.
Professionally, Mary Ann's dream and future is to combine her passion for the world outside of the walls with guiding diverse learners in one amazingly engaging and relevant teaching and learning community. Her training includes: Marzano's Effective Teaching Strategies, one on one and circle mentor trainings with The Rose Circle Mentoring Network, Red Cross First Aid, Nature Access-Universally Accessible Outdoor Education Programs, and Challenges: Understanding People Who Are Differently-Abled.
Personally, Mary Ann loves to be outside gardening, hiking, backpacking, and swimming, snow shoeing, and investigating. She participates with a local community garden group, a fruit and nut harvesting organization, and is a mentor with The Rose Circle.