Yellowstone Institute: Meet the Team

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2026 Yellowstone Institute Participants

	Jennifer Attardi  History and AVID Teacher Innovation Early College High School, Pitt County Hobbies: Gardening and hiking Looking forward to: Creating a deeper understanding of wildlife and ecosystems as well as seeing animals in their natural habitats.
	Mikayla Chapman  6th Grade Teacher CM Eppes Middle School, Pitt County Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, and photography Looking forward to: The new variety of wildlife that I get to see.
	Heather Cook Educational Diagnostician/Speech Language Pathologist  Davidson County Schools  Hobbies: Running, reading, overseas missions, and travel Looking forward to: Experiencing Yellowstone off the beaten path with other teachers.
	Carrie Dobbins  Science Teacher  Burns High School, Cleveland County  Hobbies: I enjoy being in the outdoors, baking with my daughters, and collecting vinyl records with my husband. Looking forward to: I’ve taught about Yellowstone for 13 years, but I’ve never experienced it in person. I look forward to being immersed in this incredibly fascinating geologic wonder and bringing home more engaging, relevant learning experiences for my students.
	Amy Firth  Program Director (Special Education) Philips Academy of NC, Mecklenburg County  Hobbies: Hiking, reading, and traveling Looking forward to: I’m excited to experience Yellowstone’s incredible landscape, from the geysers to the wildlife. I’m especially looking forward to seeing wolves in person and learning how their reintroduction has affected the ecosystem. I can’t wait to explore the trails, connect with fellow educators, and bring these stories back to my students in NC!
	Sarah Hamilton  8th Grade Science Teacher Cane Creek Middle School, Buncombe County  Hobbies: I love hiking, anything related to geology, reading, and cheering for my kids sports teams. Looking forward to: I am very excited for the opportunity to hike around and see the hydrothermal features and wildlife. I am looking forward to learning more about the ecosystems and geology of Yellowstone and how the different wildlife interact with each.
	Crystal Hines  3rd Grade Teacher Roger Bell New Tech Academy, Craven County  Hobbies: Looking forward to:
	Robin Owens-Pittman  Gifted Consultant/Teacher Douglas Byrd Middle School, Cumberland County Hobbies: Reading, book club, novels, coffee/wine tastings, visiting museums, puzzles, crosswords, Wordle, trivia nights, and Zumba classes Looking forward to: Grand Prismatic Spring, the Canyon, and the wildlife!
	Jacob Regensburger  Science Teacher 71st Classical Middle School, Cumberland County Hobbies: Hiking, photography, gardening, and reading Looking forward to: Geysers, bison, and new wildflowers I have not seen.
	Brandi Simonof  Biotechnology Teacher Sallie B Howard School of Arts and Science Education, Wilson County  Hobbies: Podcast junkie, dog lover Looking forward to: Exploring Yellowstone – the geysers and wildlife are my bucket list items!
	Nguyen Tran  Lead Teacher  Willow Oak Montessori, Chatham County  Hobbies: Felting, water coloring, hiking, and swimming Looking forward to: Learning about biomes and animals of Yellowstone.
	Anna Westergard  Honors Biology and Chemistry Teacher Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy, Johnston County Hobbies: I’m a mom of two middle school boys, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than cheering them on at the baseball field. When I’m not in the stands, you can usually find me outside—running, walking, or exploring our local trails and parks. I’m an avid reader and love getting lost in a good book whenever I can. And when our busy schedule allows, I enjoy sneaking away for a quick day at the beach or a short trip to the North Carolina mountains. Looking forward to: I can’t wait to experience the incredible natural beauty and wonders of Yellowstone. I’m especially excited to hike and explore the landscape up close, observe wildlife in its natural habitat, and learn alongside the amazing group of educators who will be sharing in this journey. I am looking forward to the connections that I will make, and the experiences I will be able to bring back to my classroom.

Museum Staff Leaders

	Melissa Dowland Teacher Education Specialist NC Museum of Natural Sciences Hobbies: Camping, hiking, reading, and nature photography. Looking forward to: Sharing the wonders of Yellowstone with an amazing group of teachers, witnessing their joy at the site of a baby bison and erupting geyser, and helping them return to North Carolina filled with wonder and a reignited passion for teaching.
	Rory McCollum Coordinator of Teacher Education NC Museum of Natural Sciences Hobbies: Jiu-jitsu, reading, playing board and card games, and basking in the company of my very dumb cats Looking forward to: This will be my first ever trip to Yellowstone as well as my first Educators of Excellence Institute! I’m so excited to build relationships with all the amazing teachers and see incredible wildlife and scenery in our first ever national park!
	Greg Skupien Manager of the Naturalist Center NC Museum of Natural Sciences Hobbies: Entertaining my two little girls, nature photography, playing basketball, and video games. Looking forward to: Getting to know the teachers, learning from experts, taking in magnificent landscapes, and seeing all the wildlife. I’m especially looking forward to finding more birds.

2023 Yellowstone Institute Team
2019 Yellowstone Institute Team