Board Members

- Board Member, Elected 2022- Deanne works at Eagle View Elementary School in Pequot Lakes doing what she calls her dream job. She holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Elementary Education degree and a Master's of Education degree in Diverse Learner, as well as certificates in Leave No Trace, Master Naturalist and equity and diversity. After 30+ years of classroom teaching in South Dakota, Colorado and Minnesota, she started a new environmentally focused STEM (E-STEM) program for all K-4 Eagle View students. Her passion for teaching and learning outdoors started at an early age while on canoeing, backpacking and camping trips with her family. She and her husband Pat have continued those traditions while raising their five children. When she is not teaching, you can find Deanne reading, practicing yoga or exploring woods and water trails in her kayak, hiking boots, skis or snowshoes.

Jamie grew up in St. Michael, MN snowmobiling, fishing, hockey and canoeing the BWCA. He earned an elementary education degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Master’s of Education in Learning Technology. Since 1995, he has served as a teacher at Rockford Middle School. Over the past eight years, he has helped convert the school to The Center for Environmental Studies (RMS-CES) and fostered partnerships with the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, Deep Portage Conservation Center, Three Rivers Park District, and 25:2 Solutions. Jamie is passionate about promoting environmental education, mentoring teachers and incorporating the outdoors into the curriculum. In his spare time, Jamie enjoys spending time on the North Shore, hiking, snowshoeing, and fishing. He married his high school sweetheart, Amy Jo, and they have three daughters.

Marte Kitson is an Extension Educator in the University of Minnesota Sea Grant program, and is a part of the Center for Great Lakes Literacy. Marte focuses on facilitating interactions between scientists and educators, and she supports educators to increase place-based learning, stewardship, and environmental literacy. Marte has a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Gustavus Adolphus College, and a master of science degree in biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Marte has sampled zooplankton in many Minnesota lakes and Lake Superior, conducted aquatic vegetation surveys in wetlands in every Great Lake, snorkeled in the Clearwater River in Idaho and its tributaries to conduct salmonid surveys, set gill nets in high mountain lakes, electro fished in northern Wisconsin rivers, and generally had a good time of it. Marte loves camping, canoeing, hiking, and teaching her daughter these ways of life.

Breanna grew up in Minnesota, spending time in the woods and waters as much as possible, especially at her family’s cabin in Voyageurs National Park. Breanna attended University of Puget Sound for her undergraduate degree, and has a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Pinchot University. She began her career at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, then served as Program Director at Pacific Education Institute. In 2015 she started Trygg Consulting, LLC, and worked with nonprofits, government, education organizations, and multi-stakeholder initiatives to build their capacity to do great work. Breanna is currently the Education and Outreach Director at Voyageurs Conservancy.

Jess grew up with a passion for the outdoors, camping, fishing, & hunting, with her family. She holds a BS in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Outdoor Education, and an MS in Education. She has worked in roles helping to band raptors, tromping in the swamp during summer camps, and taught about native fish. Being a USFWS wildland firefighter for over 10 years also sparked a passion for habitat restoration & prescribed fire education. Since 2015 she has been a science advisor at the Jane Goodall Environmental Sciences Academy, a public 6th-12th grade project-based learning charter school. She is excited to apply her experiences & knowledge in conservation efforts & outreach programming to the MAEE board. She enjoys canoeing with her husband & counting tree frogs with her son.

Shelly is an award-winning science educator, 20+ year veteran of the classroom, staff development instructor, and STEM/Education Consultant. Her numerous recognitions include “Teacher of the Year” twice and “California Golden Bell” award winner twice. She has been privileged to teach science from 5th- 10th grades and has been chosen for many prestigious opportunities such as Space Camp for Educators, Farm to STEM ( Ag Dept) Sustainability Ambassador ( Honeywell ) Zero G's ( Northrop Grumman) NASA Ambassador and MAVEN ambassador, just to name a few. Currently, she is an advisor for NASA eClips and several STEM organizations.