Faces of Ecospark
EcoSpark is made possible with the dedication of a passionate group of full and part-time staff as well as students and interns! Take some time to get to know the people who make our programs thrive.
EcoSpark’s staff members are at the core of the organization. They run our day-to-day operations, and provide invaluable experience behind the scenes and in program delivery. To view their bios, visit our staff page linked below.
Current and Retired Teachers
Recently, EcoSpark has welcomed OCT certified current and retired teachers to our team. They have brought a wealth of knowledge, supporting with program delivery, content development and staff training.
Amy Wilson (she/her), OCT, Program Delivery Contractor
While I have worked as an archaeologist, actor, and a One-Room Schoolhouse teacher, I have also been very fortunate to spend the past 25 years as an Outdoor Educator with the TDSB. My favourite place to be is outside, no matter the weather! I love engaging people with nature and my hope is that everyone comes away with new interests, many questions, and an eagerness to return to natural spaces. I am very happy to continue my journey with EcoSpark.
Ellen Murray (she/her),
Retired OCT
My name is Ellen and I am a retired biology teacher. I have loved doing outdoor activities with EcoSpark, especially the bird surveys, tree id and stream studies programs, over the past two years.
David Gordon (he/him),
Retired OCT
I taught secondary school in Pickering for 30 years, the last 20 of which I had the gift of EcoSpark involvement. From Changing Currents, to WattWize, Sparking Science, the Greenbelt Youth Charter and serving on the EcoSpark Board for 8 years, my involvement has been exceptionally enriching, both personally and professionally.
Now I am semi-retired, working each fall at the Boundless School in Palmer Rapids and its 600 acre classroom on the Madawaska River. This allows me the time to help EcoSpark deliver programs across the GTA as one member of their Gently Used Teacher team.
My favourite outdoor place in the GTA has to be the Bear Road Wetland in the Rouge. Myself and my students played a small part helping Friends of the Rouge Watershed in creating this wetland, so it is personally a very meaningful place while being beautiful and so full of life.
Ken Kalisch (he/him),
Retired OCT
Hi, my name is Ken and I am a retired Toronto elementary teacher and outdoor educator for the past 2 years. I am currently supporting various outdoor initiatives and education programs around the GTA, including some of the citizen science programs offered by EcoSpark.
At the moment I am interested in the connecting green corridors from the Oakridge’s Moraine to around the Toronto area, such as, the new Uxbridge Provincial Park lands and the Rouge National Park. I continue to look forward to learning with youth and helping people connect to the outdoors in various contexts!
Lori Yez (she/her), Retired OCT
Hi, I’m Lori. I am a retired elementary teacher currently supporting EcoSpark and Toronto Outdoor Education Schools. I spent 5 years teaching in the classroom and 27 years teaching Outdoor Education to TDSB students. I have a passion for providing students with learning opportunities while immersed in their outdoor environment.
Students and Interns
EcoSpark is proud to help support the next generation of environmental leaders through high school co-op placements, as well as university partnerships and early-career internships. We provide students with the opportunity to gain experience working in the environmental field and engaging with educational institutions. The students help us increase the reach of program delivery for participants and strengthen our work.
Jahreleaseya Lehmann-Simpson (she/her), Environmental Education Assistant
Jahreleaseya is a recent graduate of the Environmental Biology Cooperative program at TMU. Through her experience leading youth during co-op opportunities in natural settings, she discovered a passion for environmental education. Connecting her academic background in biology, professional background in outdoor education and lived experiences as a POC, she aspires to make science fun and accessible for all!
Edie Levine-Barnoff (she/her), Environmental Education Assistant
Edie has recently graduated from Trent University with a degree in Biology and a specialization in Conservation Biology. She is passionate about avian ecology, having spent two summers researching breeding shorebirds in Chincoteague, Virginia. Her favourite bird is the adorable Piping Plover, which has inspired her love of birding. At EcoSpark, she is excited to draw upon her experiences to provide meaningful, hands-on environmental education in Toronto and the GTA.
Alissa Gallizzi (she/her),
University of Waterloo Student
My name is Alissa Gallizzi, and I am a a current master's student at the University of Waterloo studying social and ecological sustainability. In my second year, I am developing a multi-level project that aims to explore how short-term exposure to nature may elicit the characteristics of a "significant nature situation" for youth audiences. Environmental education is a passion of mine, stemming from various experiences working as an animal educator for childrens’ programming, and my experience at the Toronto Zoo teaching families and youth groups about wild species survival adaptability. I joined EcoSpark because I believe organizations as such are solutions to combatting the extinction of experience, and encouraging future generations to become stewards of the environment.
Vivian Grosse (she/her),
Seasonal Program Delivery Assistant
Hello! My name is Vivian. I just finished my second year of University studying Bio-Medical Sciences at the University of Guelph. I am passionate about all aspects of science, especially environmental science. My whole life I have had a love for being outdoors, whether it is camping at Algonquin Park or taking a walk in my neighborhood park, I find a sense of peace and beauty in nature. I am excited to start my journey with Ecospark and learn more about the environment that surrounds us and how to protect it. I can’t wait to make a positive impact together as a community!
Felicia Mikrogianakis (she/her), Summer Environmental Education Consultant
Felicia’s love for the planet, people, and science shapes everything she does. In her research as a graduate student at the University of Toronto, she wove together diverse experiences in engineering, technology, education, and the youth climate movement to nurture the teaching of social and ecological justice in undergraduate engineering programs and to develop more sustainable technologies. Now at EcoSpark she hopes to impart her deep love of the natural world and her passion for science to learners in the GTA! When not working or spending time outdoors, you can find Felicia at her piano, starting a new textile project, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends.
