Lynne Pacunas: Teaching Fellow, Education

Tel: (202) 787-1614
Email: lpacunas@oceanleadership.org

Lynne's eyes and curiosity were opened to Earth Science early in college, leading to a semester exchange to study geology at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, and eventually to a Bachelor's degree in Geology. Immediately following college she tried her hands in a variety of scientific and educational opportunities through an internship at Point Reyes National Seashore, CA, through the Student Conservation Association (SCA). She helped in monitoring amphibian populations, determining residual dry matter for range conservationist, providing interpretive programs for park visitors, and having a great time helping out at the summer camp. It was clear by the end of the internship that she was continually drawn to the educational angle of science. This led to a two year stint at Point Reyes Education Programs providing educational opportunities for school groups, adults and Elderhostel groups as well as running the summer camp programs. However, becoming a teacher was always in her cards and so she pursued her teaching credential while working part-time as a Park Ranger at Point Reyes N.S. Her first teaching position was as a sixth grade science and math teacher at a unique school in Berkeley, CA. M. L. King Jr. Middle School is known for having one of the first school-based garden and cooking programs, The Edible Schoolyard. Her two years at King M.S. were rich in opportunities to integrate hands-on science into both science and math curricula. Trying to avoid planting her own roots on the west coast, she moved east and has settled at North Bethesda Middle School in Bethesda, MD, for the past eight years. She has taught both seventh and eighth grade sciences, with a preference for the eighth grade for its emphasis on Earth Science. For the last two years she has enjoyed serving as a grade-level team leader. This year she embarks on a whole new challenge and adventure as the inaugural Teacher Fellow with the Joint Oceanographic Institutions educational team, JOI Learning. She is excited to tap into skills and interests that classroom teaching does not always allow to be developed, while bringing her ten years of experience and expertise of the needs to classroom teachers and their students to the JOI Learning team.