Alex Bennett

Whitman Elementary School, Portland OR

Alex Bennett is an educator with over 10 years of experience teaching special education in diverse urban schools, where he’s dedicated his career to advancing equity and access in learning. Alex’s experiences in the classroom have strengthened his belief that education is a powerful catalyst for social and environmental change. Through this fellowship, he hopes to integrate sustainability and clean energy literacy into education, empowering students—especially those in underserved communities—to envision and lead a more sustainable future.

Julia Cruz

Maestra de 5to grado / 5th Grade DL Teacher, Aloha-Huber Park K-8, Beaverton OR

Julia Cruz is from Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. She has been living in Oregon for over 22 years now. Julia has 2 bachelors, one in Marketing and the other one in Education, as well as a master’s in teaching from George Fox.

Julia has been working in schools since 2006, Beaverton mostly, and before that, she used to do marketing in México, with a focus in customer service and sales.

Julia has 3 wonderful teenagers, 2 high schoolers and 1 in middle school.

Karen Black

6th and 7th Grade Science Teacher, Highland Park Middle School, Beaverton OR

With over 30 years of experience in education and coaching, Karen is a passionate middle school science educator dedicated to fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning. For the past 28 years, She has taught middle school science in the Beaverton School District, creating inclusive, hands-on, and inquiry-based classrooms that encourage all students to see themselves as capable scientists and problem-solvers.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development with a minor in Education from Warner Pacific College (1997) and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Lewis & Clark College (2013). In addition to her Oregon Teaching License (1998-present), she also holds an Oregon Administrative license.
Karen’s classroom is built on the belief that real learning happens when students are challenged, supported, and engaged. She strives to design lessons that connect scientific concepts to the real world, often incorporating engineering design, outdoor education, and collaborative problem-solving. Her experiences as a lifelong skier, outdoor leader, and coach influence her teaching style—emphasizing resilience, teamwork, and a spirit of exploration.
Beyond the classroom, she has been deeply involved in educational leadership and professional development. Since 1998, Karen has contributed to science curriculum development within the Beaverton School District and have served on multiple curriculum adoption teams. She has also played a key role in broader curriculum innovation efforts, including work on Solar 4 Schools, nanotechnology education, and Earth-space science programming.
Throughout her career, Karen has focused on making science accessible and meaningful for every student, while also mentoring fellow educators and contributing to the broader educational community. She takes great pride in helping shape equitable, student-centered science instruction that prepares learners for both academic success and responsible global citizenship.
When she’s not teaching, Karen loves being outdoors—skiing, hiking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest and traveling internationally. She brings that same sense of adventure into my classroom, where she hopes to inspire the next generation of curious, confident, and capable scientists.

Eric Scheider

CTE Teacher, Estacada High School, Estacada OR

Makala Mckinney

Lincoln Street Elementary School, Hillsboro OR

Leslie Stolin

Hazel Dell Elementary School, Beaverton OR