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2024-2025 Clean Energy Fellows: Pacific Northwest Power Grid Cohort

This cohort of educators created unique K-12 STEM programming that leverages community relationships, regional energy resources, localized energy and justice challenges, and industry expertise, localized to meet the needs of their learning community.

Photo Gallery

A table setup at a community event. A kid puts their hand in a Tupperware container 1/8th filled with a clear liquid. The container is on a grey tray, one of 4. The trays have clear pipettes. One tray has markers and sticky notes instead. Plants growing in white cups are in a black basket. Liter bottles connected with a green connector are standing behind the trays on the right. Magnetic building toys are behind the bottles and the A woman in a pink shirt with a black backpack is looking at something on the table by the magnet toys. At the far end of the table is a green tri-fold poster the large yellow letters: "CIENCE" and "USEUM" can be seen
A top down drawing of a dam. In the upper left is blue lines labeled "Lake" To the right are two lines and 4 boxes labeled "Gate" with more blue lines of water going across grey coloring. To the right the water continues between to black lines labeled River. Below the Lake is a front view of 2 gates with water pouring out. There are 5 squares with grey spaces between them. To the right is a side-view of a turbine with water flowing through.
A group of girls surround a water table filled with tan sand. Two girls hold orange cups. The water table has three tubes connected on the near side.
A photo looking down from above of a group of students. A water table with wet sand can just be seen between the heads and hands.
Photo of a table at a community event. On the table is a green tri-fold poster that reads Science Museum in large yellow letters. There is an orange square with a white paper in the middle that reads "Lets Build a SCIENCE MUSEUM. It is partially obstructed by a standing folder flyer that can't be read in the photo. To the left on the table is a model of the solar system, magnetic building toys, 4 pairs of connected litter bottles labled Tornado Simulation. Behind that cups with dirt can be seen. The leftmost part of the table has 4 trays one with markers and two with Tupperware containers and all trays have clear plastic pipettes.
Photo of a white paper with a sideview drawing of a dam. In the upper left corner are the names Penelope and Harper. next to that is a drawing of a hill with a blue line labeled runoff. The hill has one tree on the upper left and a cluster of 5 in the bottom right. The blue line extends to more trees near a river with fish in it. There is a brown animal near the trees. By the tees in the hill is a purple arrow pointed at a cloud with the label Transpiration there are two more clouds above it the upper most is raining and has an arrow going buy it pointed at the hill that is labeled preciptiation. To the right there is a sun with an arrow pointing towards the clouds and the word condensation. Below that is another cloud that is over a deep pool of water with fish. 4 wavy arrows point from the water to the cloud and are labeled evaporation. Holding the big pool of water back from the river by the forest is a grey inverted V. Some water spills out from the front of the grey structure into the river.
Black and white drawing labeled Gravity Dam Diagram. There is a line below the label and then a side-view drawing of the dam. To the left is a lower water and the right higher water with fish. There is a barrier inside the water then an inverted V barrier, inside the V are words that are difficult to make out. Below the drawing are the words How it workds The Dam is configure in a way that it is able to reist sliding with the force of water.
Three adults stand by a metal table on wheels. On the table is an electric component with batteries and a large power cable. A metal cover, a large metal coil a pair of gloves and a power cable attached to an unidentified device. In front of the table a motor sits on a pallet cart. To the left of the table is an array of batteries connected with orange cables.
Photo of a white paper with a drawing of a dam. The drawing is labeled CSKT Dam Model. It has a row of mountains that are black peaks with a few blue peaks mixed in. In front of the mountains is a top-down view of a water basin in an oval shape with steep walls. To the bottom is a dam with three water channels and some frothy water in a lower oval of water.
Four white topped work tables are pushed together with a small square of space in the middle. Students surround the tables with their heads down, all are holding a pencil. They have white paper on the table top. There are additional pencils, black paper, a mug, and a bucket on the top most tables.
Top down photo of a table and 2 cards. On the table is a metal device with wires coming out, it is mostly covered by a metal lid. The cart to the left has a motor with a large electric cable coming out of the top. On the cart at the top orange power cables connecting what is likely batteries can be seen.
Photo of a water table the sand is very wet and small channels can be seen in random patterns across the surface, most channels run from one end of the table to the other. A person with a white sleeve and silver watch is pointing to the left side of the table.
Photo of a paper poster hanging on a white wall. The poster reads "Flathead lake levels (over 10 Years). on the left are values from 2889.70 to 2893, the dates on the bottom are cut off, but 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 can be seen. The graph has a rise before a slightly larger fall with a sharp rise followed by a sharp fall. More text can be seen, but not read on the right.

Additional Info

Links

2024-25 Clean Energy Fellows PNW Power Grid Launch Recording

Collaborative Partners

Energy Keepers (SKQ Dam)
Puget Sound Energy
Mission Valley Power Eugene Water Electric Board
Central Electric Cooperative
Redmond Proficiency Academy
350 Deschutes

Funding Partners

Bonneville Power Administration
Puget Sound Energy
Northwestern Energy

Bill Becker Headshot

“  This program has empowered me to explore and elevate the multifaceted significance of the Séliš Ksanka Ql̓ispé Dam. From its role within the community to its broader scientific, educational, and cultural relevance. Through this journey, I’ve built a robust bank of interdisciplinary lessons centered on the Séliš Ksanka Ql̓ispé Dam, designed to inspire inquiry and foster shared learning. These materials have already made a meaningful impact on my students, and now they’re available to benefit educators, learners, and communities far beyond my own. I am truly blessed to have been a small part in this investment in lasting knowledge and connection.“

Bill Becker

2024-2025 Clean Energy Fellows: Pacific Northwest Power Grid Cohort

Meet the Clean Energy Fellows

Bill Becker Headshot
Bill Becker

Ronan Middle School, Ronan MT

Bill has been teaching on the Flathead Reservation at Ronan Middle School for the past 13 years after spending 8 in Las Vegas. He has 3 degrees from UNLV, all in various aspects of teaching and designing curriculums in mathematics.
After 21 years of teaching, Bill summarizes what he does into two main areas; as a math teacher and a student advocate. As a math teacher, his job is to connect new and challenging concepts to previously learned ideas as well as real world applications. As an advocate for these same students, Bill’s most important role is instilling confidence into these same youth that no goal is out of reach, and no obstacle is insurmountable. Bill wants his students to aim high, dream big, and not back down from whatever challenges stand between them and turning those dreams into reality.

Thomas Beck Headshot
Thomas Beck

Renaissance High School, Bremerton WA

Thomas Allen Beck is an educator, an illustrator, a creative, and an engineer that believes knowledge should be at the forefront of human progress. He became an educator because he has always intentionally believed in a growth mindset. To learn about everything and embrace change in an ever-evolving world is the only way we can help our communities move forward. To fail with purpose is something that should be taught to our younger generations. Thomas currently teaches at Renaissance High School in Bremerton, WA. In addition to being a STEAM CTE teacher for his ALE, he coaches robotics and advocates for educational equity by teaching with the Microsoft TEALS program. Since he works in an alternative learning environment working with Clean Energy. Bright Futures will create an avenue of employability for his students in an underserved community. Educational equity is a pillar of his belief system, and he holds true to his teaching mantra – “Don’t preach, just teach!”

Nora Harren Headshot
Nora Harren

Campaign and Education Coordinator, 350 Deschutes, Bend OR

Nora Harren is the Campaign and Education Coordinator for 350 Deschutes and resides in Bend, Oregon. She studied Environmental Policy and Economics at Oregon State University and is passionate about protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Nora believes that educating others about clean energy and making sustainability concepts accessible to everyone are key steps toward building a sustainable future. Her work focuses on clean energy workforce development and education, reflecting her dedication to creating a more sustainable world.

Sarah Heacox-Jackson Headshot
Sarah Heacox-Jackson

South Eugene High School, Eugene OR

Sarah Heacox-Jackson is a high school math teacher in Eugene, Oregon. At work she is passionate about STEM, career readiness, reaching struggling students, and promoting mental health with students and coworkers. Outside of work she gets excited about swimming, camping, knitting, Nintendo games, and the Seattle Kraken. Her favorite place in nature is Suttle Lake. She is eager to use education as a force for climate justice.

Paula Richards Headshot
Paula Richards

Hardin Middle School, Hardin MT

Paula is in her 15th year teaching and is excited to begin her third year teaching middle school science in Hardin, Montana. She is the Two Spirit Club Advisor and a co-advisor for HOPE Squad.

Paula with her life partner, Bill, has eight children, fifteen grandchildren, two Basset hounds; Dumbo and Scout, and an overly friendly bulldog terrier mix, Daisy. Daisy and Paula frequently take bike rides around the fairgrounds. Paula recently took up quilting and is thrilled to learn a new hobby.

Sarah Ruggiero-Kirby Headshot
Sarah Ruggiero-Kirby

Secondary Science Specialist (TOSA) and Outdoor School Coordinator, Eugene 4J School District, Eugene OR

Sarah Ruggiero-Kirby is the Secondary Science Specialist (TOSA) and Outdoor School Coordinator for Eugene 4J School District. She is a founding member of Oregon Educators for Climate Education (OECE), working on comprehensive, integrated K-12 climate education legislation across Oregon. She is President-Elect for Oregon Science Teacher Association (OSTA), serves on the Board of Directors for the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council, is co-chair of the OEA Climate Caucus, and serves on the Leadership Team of Oregon Science Leaders (OSL). She has been teaching for 25 years in middle and high school science classes, 12 of which were spent teaching in a Natural Resource Management CTE program at Churchill High School, with a strong focus on hydrology, forestry, sustainability, renewable energy and climate resilience.