Todd Beasley 424 Florida St., Columbia, SC 29201

Telephone: 803-240-0823 Email: toddbsl@zoho.com

EDUCATION Ed.D.: Curriculum and Instruction University of South Carolina, 2014 Dissertation: A Local Exploration of Educators’ Perceptions, Collaboration and Usage of Urban Wilderness Sites in Introducing the Outdoors to Marginalized Students

MS: Earth and Environmental Resource Management University of South Carolina, 2008 Thesis: Green Thumbs to Green Minds: An Analysis of South Carolina Certified Schoolyard Habitats & Outdoor Classrooms

BS: Criminal Justice University of South Carolina, 1998 Cognate: 12 hours Environmental Science Concentration

HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE Landscaping and Horticulture Instructor 2002-2015 Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC Courses: Annuals and Perennials Basic and Advanced Landscape Design Greenhouse Management

K-12 EDUCATION EXPERIENCE School Environmental Education Director 2011-Present Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC

Teacher 2007-Present Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC Courses: AP Environmental Science Bio II Senior Seminar 5th Grade Environmental Science

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Awards

• Successfully wrote the proposal to the American Horticultural Society for Columbia, SC to host the 2016 National Children & Youth Gardening Symposium

• Awarded 22 grants over 8 years totaling $56550 for environmental education initiatives • 5 time City of Columbia People’s Choice Award for Best Educational Garden • 2 time Richland County Appearance Commission Award for Best Education Garden • Richland County Conservation Teacher of the Year – 2008/2009 • South Carolina Wildlife Federation Bootsie Manning Memorial Wildlife Habitat Award –

2013/2014

Publications • ‘A Baker’s Dozen for the Summer’s Oven’ - State by State Gardening Newsletter, August

2012 • ‘Defeating the Garden Beast’ - Eat Smart - It’s in the Garden, SC Dept of Ag Newsletter,

V3,2011 • ‘Defeating the Grant Beast’ - Eat Smart - It’s in the Garden, SC Dept of Ag Newsletter,

V4,2012 Speaking Engagements

• ‘Treasured Places From Wasted Spaces’ - American Horticultural Society Youth Gardening Symposium, Michigan State University, 2011

• ‘Kids DIG: Design Interesting Gardens’ - American Horticultural Society Youth Gardening Symposium, Austin, TX, 2015

• Richland County Master Gardeners, Sweet William Garden Club, Iris Garden Club of Columbia, Mimosa Garden Club, & Palmetto Garden Club speaker engagements

EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT HISTORY SEED Director, Heathwood Hall 2011-Present

• Developed and implemented the SEED (School Environmental Education) Program as the school’s sustainability committee involving faculty, staff, student and parent volunteers

• Oversaw design, creation & maintenance of physical infrastructure components to support environmental, experiential, and outdoor learning including 12 theme gardens maintained by students

• Cultivated and maintained strategic relationships with local K-12 schools, universities, environmental organizations, and other community stakeholders

• Provided and supervised community service and service learning opportunities • Designed, supervised, and managed development and implementation of environmental

education programs, outdoor recreation, & interpretation connected to curricula using the environment as the integrating context

• Led workshops, presentations, and tours of the environmental program • Increased campus habitats through enhancement and restoration, waste reduction

program, green purchasing, and recycling and composting efforts while reducing the overall carbon footprint

• Oversaw, expanded, and created new sustainability fundraising initiatives including spring/fall plant sales, Christmas tree sales, parent/educator horticulture classes

• Assisted in identifying and writing grants and requests for assistance • Supervised preparation & maintained effective communication with school community

through SEED newsletter • Provided cost analysis information and recommendations to school leaders • Increased school’s role as a state sustainability leader and resource • Established SEED 1-3-5 year plan of short and long term goals reporting to head of

school biannually evaluating and promoting progress • Proposed and managed operating budget acquired through grants and fundraisers • Assumed overall responsibility for allocating funds while managing SEED budget

financed exclusively through grants and fundraising • Conducted regularly scheduled meetings and reports • Led the successful implementation of a land-lease agreement and partnership with City

Roots to expand their urban organic farm onto Heathwood property • Partnered with Manchester Farms to provide guidance and resources to create high

quality organic compost by capitalizing on biomass waste material in exchange for material for Heathwood projects and partnerships

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Environmental Science Educator, Heathwood Hall 2007-Present • Designed natural and environmental science curriculum using experiential, hands-on,

outdoor, and informal approaches around technology • Correlated, revised and modified existing curriculum & teaching materials to connect with

state and national standards to fit the needs of our specific student population through multicultural environmental education approach

• Designed, created, and maintained outdoor learning spaces and gardens with students • Managed and supervised students in greenhouse and horticulture programs • Evaluated students through multiple design methods including portfolio assessments • Served as an advisor, mentor, and role model for students and liaison for parents • Provided instructional resources, classroom/duty support, and leadership to cohorts • Supported leadership while serving as an instructional and curriculum specialist as a

catalyst for change • Maintained accurate student academic records & progress narratives • Consistently updated online lesson plans, student academic records, and all classroom

activities • Enhanced parent relationships with timely communication on all educational,

developmental, and social aspects of their children • Integrated other core subjects within environmental topics while collaborating with other

teachers through a cross-curricular approach • Created and led spring break and summer camps • Promoted student and faculty inclusivity and diversity within cultures and sub-cultures • Instilled equality and fairness within all aspects of education while preparing students for

a complex world • Enhanced the environmental literacy of multiple age groups in a variety of physical and

cultural settings through innovative, student-centered, place-based & experiential curricula

• Guided students in a variety of experiential, wildland outings

Instructor, Midlands Technical College 2002-2015 • Led initiative to overhaul horticulture continuing education program making

recommendations involving sustainability and diversity to program managers • Designed new courses for certification program including basic introductory horticulture

class • Collaborated with instructors and outside resources to make viable landscape

connections for students • Instructed students through participatory activities courses on landscape design,

annuals/perennials, and greenhouse management • Provided guidance for developing programs at regional institutions • Continued supporting former students who have entered the horticulture field

Park Ranger II, City of Columbia 2006-2007 • Enforced & educated park guests through positive relations all park rules and regulations

within a natural setting • Developed invasive plant removal team that reintroduced native species for habitat

restoration and enhancement • Designed & assisted in creating & maintaining horticulture display gardens • Planned, promoted, and implemented educational programs and interpretation regarding

environmental, natural history & cultural history of the 3Rivers Greenway • Improved and executed enhancement of undeveloped areas through proper land

management development planning • Coordinated activities between Ranger III and Ranger I • Identify and allocate resources and donations to improve and enhance park settings

Nursery/Production Manager, Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Garden 2002-2006 • Managed daily operations & budget of the botanical garden plant nursery & greenhouses • Coordinated crop scheduling, plant culture decisions (propagation/growth/care/health),

space utilization, infrastructure maintenance, and integrated pest management • Researched, collected, entered all aspects of plant growth in database.

• Collaborated with curator in leading all landscape activities, volunteer programs, workshops & programs, and tours

• Conducted research on native plant species sustainability, increasing existing populations and reintroduction of nursery grown stock into wildlands

Senior Instructor, Alternative Youth Adventures at Camp Aspen 1999-2002 • Mentored students in developing life skills in a therapeutic outdoor environment • Served as a role model building trust, teaching responsibility, and developing empathy • Supervised other instructors in following program rules, regulations and policies in order

to insure safety of participants • Provided daily supervision of program participants • Designed and implemented wilderness programs • Maintained accurate records and narratives on all program participants • Communicated with all treatment coordinators while making recommendations

Manager, Jarrett’s Jungle 1996-2002 • Managed daily operations of retail plant nursery including ordering & tracking inventory,

advertising, greenhouse maintenance, care of plants, accounts management, and employee supervision

• Promoted positive customer relations through enjoyable shopping experiences • Increased productivity and profit margins though technological enhancements • Increased sustainability and profits through local sourcing of products • Expanded original business to fit needs of a larger diverse customer population

EXTENDED LIST OF MEMBERSHIPS, AFFILIATIONS, & SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS Archaeological Society of South Carolina American Horticultural Society Carolina Sandhills Children Garden City of Columbia Forestry & Beautification Division City Roots Columbia Green Environmental Education Association of South Carolina Friends of Harbison State Forest Gills Creek Watershed Association Greater Columbia Landscaper Association GreenSteps School Network Historic Columbia Keep the Midlands Beautiful Oliver Gospel Mission PalmettoPride Pets Inc. Richland County Soil & Water Conservation South Carolina Archaeology Public Outreach Division – Board Member South Carolina Association of Naturalists South Carolina Native Plant Society South Carolina State Department of Agriculture South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control Champions of the Environment South Carolina Wildlife Federation University of South Carolina Science Education University of South Carolina Belser Arboretum

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EXTENDED LIST OF GRANTS & AWARDS 2007/2008 Awarded $3200 PalmettoPride grant to design/install South Carolina native garden Awarded City of Columbia/Columbia Green People’s Choice Award for best education design Awarded Richland County Appearance Commission Award for best education garden

2008/2009 Awarded $500 Champions of the Environment grant to design/install a native tree alley Awarded $250 Champions of the Environment Merit Award to continue native tree alley Awarded $2500 PalmettoPride grant to design/install a native butterfly/hummingbird garden Awarded $3000 Richland County Conservation Commission to create a nature trail Awarded Richland County Conservation Teacher of the Year 2009/2010 Awarded $2500 from CSX Corporation for native trail enhancement Awarded $4000 PalmettoPride grant to create a SC Native American Medicine Wheel garden and for recycling initiatives. Awarded Richland County Appearance Commission Award for best education design/garden Awarded $2500 from DHEC Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling for recycling initiatives Awarded $5000 from GreenWorks/Project Learning Tree for outdoor classroom, habitat enhancement/restoration and nature trail design Awarded $800 from DHEC Champions of the Environment for SC Native American Medicine Medicine Wheel Garden Awarded $300 from Environmental Education Association of South Carolina for tree ID signs and classroom set of garden pruners 2010/2011 Awarded $5000 from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an outdoor classroom building Awarded $6000 from Richland County Conservation Commission for rain gardens 2011/2012 Awarded $2500 from PalmettoPride for restoration/habitat enhancement of a stormwater pond into a replicated wetland Awarded City of Columbia/Columbia Green People’s Choice Award for best education design – Medicine Wheel

2012/2013 Awarded $2000 from Whole Foods Foundation for the creation of an edible forest Awarded $500 from Publix, $500 from Two Men and a Truck, & $500 from Columbia Green for Carolina Bay Ecosystem and Edible Forest Awarded City of Columbia/Columbia Green People’s Choice Award for best education design/garden – Xeric Garden Awarded $5000 from PalmettoPride for Carolina Bay Ecosystem garden/recycling/EE Literacy Program Awarded $3000 from GreenWorks/Project Learning Tree for an art garden, bird habitat, and edible forest 2013/2014 Awarded City of Columbia/Columbia Green People’s Choice Award for best education design/garden – Edible Forest Awarded $5000 from Southeastern Environmental Education Association for Carolina Bay Ecosystem, bird habitat, & edible forest Awarded South Carolina Wildlife Federation Bootsie Manning Memorial Wildlife Habitat Award

2015/2016 Awarded $2000 from Richland County Conservation Commission for Wild Wings Buffett Awarded City of Columbia/Columbia Green People’s Choice Award for best education design/garden - Art Garden

PROFILE

A dynamic, divergent and resourceful educator with a strong knowledge of natural and environmental science, horticulture, flora & fauna, natural history, and multiculturalism dedicated to the field of environmental education. Inventive writing and networking skills allowing partnership, fundraising, and grant acquisition and development beyond traditional avenues. Focused, direct, and an organized strategic thinker with goal orientation and the ability to see the bigger picture while accomplishing the smaller steps aimed at designing and developing environmental education programming. Strong, honorable disposition including social morality, social responsibility, and cultural literacy providing the impetus for change through multicultural environmental education. Commitment to the field of diversity and the outdoors with the aim of improving and increasing access, skills, knowledge, behaviors and attitudes about our environment.

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Educational Philosophy Todd Beasley

E O Wilson, the Harvard professor and naturalist, has theorized that all people are born with an inherent connection to nature within our psyche due to our millions of years spent as beings directly connected to the outdoors. But many of us have lost this connection, called Biophilia, due to our sedentary lifestyles. My philosophy of teaching and learning has developed over many years of exploring the outdoors and working in settings that allow me to experience learning through the senses. The opportunities I had, riding on swamp buggies and airboats at age 3, wrangling a wild pig at age 4, and “living off the land” like characters from “My Side of the Mountain” or “Hatchet” are not things kids typically do today. So, It is with high enthusiasm and energy that these experiences and knowledge that I hold are replicated in a sense that allows students to cultivate the same love and respect for our outdoor world. In the words of John Muir, “in wilderness is the preservation of world”.

On paper, I would be considered an environmental educator in which many people associate that as nature studies. While the outdoors are often my lab and I include natural and environmental science in my teaching, the lesson with everything is that we are a part of nature – not just in it. The environment is all around us and includes all cultures. Thus, environmental education is complimentary and an extension of multicultural education as many of the goals are the same - the development of the skills, attitudes, knowledge and behaviors needed to make sustainable decisions. These linked goals are infused within my educational dialogue and are reinforced through teaching that focuses on collaboration and the use of the social imagination and creativity that assists in critical and higher order thinking skill enhancement. The bridge that connects all of them is through my use of experiences through participatory action research, civic engagement, social responsibility and social morality.

I view my style of teaching as a blend of essentialism and progressivism as my goal is to prepare students for the next level with their skill development. More importantly, however, preparation is to mold students to think logically, rationally, and constructively in order to enter a complex society and become productive citizens. To do this, one must approach teaching from a dynamic perspective, not a fixed view. Students must be a part of the educational process and only through engagement, participation, and dialogue can lessons go beyond the standard format that constrains critical thinking skills and higher order thinking. Students must be exposed to lessons through multiple media, as this is part of our culture today, in order to capture and engage all of their learning styles. Whether it is indoors dialoguing, watching a video, or touching and discussing an object to taking a walk outside, students must have a sensory and local context connection. This is environmental education.

Students today are exposed to an excessive amount of information, so it is only practical to get them engaged in lessons through discussion and participation that involves shared experiences within a local connection context. While the infusion of technology is valuable, it must have observed parameters and be used as a tool, not a replacement. What I like best; however, are the days that I teach in nature and capture the senses of students and the emotional awes that accompany the sensation students receive from interacting with something in real time versus from a screen. When I was writing my Master thesis, my committee chair said that I will not reach everybody. At least I can try, and if a student comes to me to share an experience that connects to a lesson or designs a project that has an environmental science theme, then I have been effective and can share that experience. The student who is timid about nature is the one that I work the hardest with. As Muir again sums it up best: “in every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks”.