How did you connect with Beyond Benign?
I first heard about Beyond Benign by attending a Green Chemistry Session at the Washington Science Teachers Association conference in the Fall of 2016 facilitated by Saskia Van Bergen of the Washington State Department of Ecology. After further research into Green Chemistry and Beyond Benign I took the online “Green Chemistry for High School Teachers” summer course from Tanya Elmer (lead teacher). The course was fantastic and my application for Green Chemistry Lead Teacher was a direct result.

What first drew you into teaching and science education?
I love science and learning about the natural world. I also love to see others get excited about science, especially chemistry. Teaching science provides an endless supply of learning, sharing and seeing students get excited about what they learn! 

What excites you most about teaching green chemistry?
My experience has shown me that today’s students are eager to make scientific and technological advances without harming the planet. Furthermore, students often feel daunted by the challenges their generation faces. Green Chemistry gives them a vehicle to do something about these problems and a path to make a difference.