Embedded Files
Coert Ambrosino joined the AAPS Environmental Education Program in January 2019 and serves as the program's lead teacher. Coert is a product of AAPS (having attended Abbot, Forsythe, and Pioneer), with fond memories of EE programming with Bill Browning. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan in Latin American Studies and Environmental Studies, completing a senior thesis on environmental and social impacts of monoculture pineapple production in Costa Rica after attending a semester abroad ecology program there. Coert later returned to UM to earn his Masters degree in Elementary Education.
Before joining the EE program, Coert taught for ten years in North Carolina, Colorado, and Michigan. His professional accomplishments include facilitating district-level professional development, co-authoring multiple academic articles, serving as a union rep, leading academic enrichment programming, and being honored with a Colorado statewide recognition award for exemplary teaching. He also has a rich background in camping, having spent two summers working at camps in upstate New York and seven summers at Ann Arbor YMCA Camp Al-Gon-Quian in roles ranging from nature activity leader, to head counselor, to assistant director. Coert has served in various instructional roles for AAPS, and he is delighted to work with students from a wide range of grade levels all throughout the district.
Coert is a is a lifelong learner who has completed professional development in NGSX, Project Wet, Master Rain Gardener certification, and the National Association for Interpretation’s Certified Interpretive Guide training. He is a member of the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education and has earned his EE certification through its EEC-Professional program.
Coert also currently serves as the adult liaison for the Freeman Environmental Youth Council and co-leads (along with Nate Hatt, A2STEAM PBL Coordinator) the Rec & Ed “A2 Nature Guardians” summer day camp at the Freeman Environmental Education Center.
Coert and his wife, Jordan, have two daughters. Favorite family activities include gardening, cooking, reading, hiking, and swimming at the lake. Coert's other hobbies include volleyball, golf, woodworking, and native plant landscaping.
Sarah Hill joined the program as an Environmental Education Teacher during the 2024-2025 school year. Sarah grew up exploring the wetland and forest ecosystems of southeast Michigan. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Michigan, earning a degree in Environmental Policy and Behavior from the School of Natural Resources. She cherishes memories of her Woody Plants class and her time doing field research at UM’s Biological Station, investigating the influence of beaver dams on water conditions. Sarah also holds a Masters degree in Elementary Education from UM.
Before joining the EE program, Sarah spent ten years teaching middle school science at Scarlett Middle School, where she served as the building science curriculum leader and was actively involved in district-wide science curriculum development. Prior to joining AAPS, Sarah taught in upper elementary classes in Detroit, Taiwan, and California.
Before entering the classroom, Sarah worked as a naturalist in environmental education programs in California including as an elementary gardening teacher in San Francisco. An outdoor recreation enthusiast, Sarah also spent time working as whitewater rafting guide in West Virginia and sea kayaking guide in Alaska.
Sarah has completed training in NGSX, Project Wild, Project Learning Tree. In her free time, she loves to read, cook, camp, swim, kayak, garden, hike, and find other ways to play outside with her family. Sarah believes that science literacy is an essential part of building a more equitable, sustainable world. She is thrilled to be able to share her love of the outdoors and experience teaching science with students of all ages throughout the district.
Environmental Specialists
The EE Program has a small team of talented naturalists who serve as substitute trip leaders and provide additional staff capacity. We are so grateful for the dedication and skill that these awesome folks provide for our students!
Esha Biswas is the Youth Programs Manager at Growing Hope, a non-profit in Ypsilanti, MI, where she works on garden-based food justice education with K-12 students. Esha holds a Master's in Conservation Ecology from the University of Michigan's School for Environment & Sustainability (SEAS). Her collaboration with the EE Program began during her Master's practicum project, which focused on the Freeman EE Center and included elements of restoration ecology, environmental education, and arts integration.
Elle Bogle is a naturalist with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide and a Certified Master Herpetologist with an area of focus on vernal pools. She leads the vernal pool volunteer monitoring program for Washtenaw County Parks in collaboration with the Michigan Vernal Pool Partnership.
Sally Brieloff joined the EE Program team after having retired from AAPS in 2022. She spent 25 years teaching across elementary, from first grade to fourth grade, and has been an advocate for the sciences since her teaching career began. Sally has a BS in Education, with a concentration in science, as will as an MA in Education. A product of the AAPS, Sally brings her love of the EE program from the perspective of a student and a teacher.
Kathy Coppens taught science at Tappan Middle School for twenty-four years. She was also the science curriculum leader and sponsored the Tappan garden club for ten years before retiring. Her education includes a bachelor’s degree in science, with a concentration in life and earth science, and a Master’s degree in integrated science, with a concentration in physics. After retirement, Kathy is continuing her love for science, gardening, and education and is now a master gardener.
Page updated
Report abuse