Portland Forest School Teachers, Staff & Board

Forest School Staff: Kindergarten / 1st-2nd Pod

Kindergarten - 2nd teacher at private school in Portland, OR. Outdoor Forest School

Madeline Boyer

she/her

Lead Teacher: Kindergarten

Madeline was born and raised in Portland. She attended Northwestern University where she studied Anthropology and Environmental Policy. Madeline served two years as an AmeriCorps member and became a Master Gardener, then returned to school to earn a Master’s in Leadership for Sustainability Education at Portland State University. She worked in the farm- and garden-based education field for several years, mainly in elementary school gardens, before deciding to become a certified classroom teacher.

This is Madeline’s fourth year with Portland Forest School, and she is thrilled to continue connecting kids with nature and watching them grow and thrive. When not teaching, Madeline is usually in her garden, playing with her dog, or watching birds.

Jacqui McGregor

she/her

Kindergarten Assistant

Jacqui’s love for the outdoors began in the lakes and woods of her home state of Minnesota, where she could usually be found wandering the forests and trails - even in the winter. She earned her degree in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services from Minnesota State University. From there, her adventures took her all over the map: she taught cross-country ski lessons in the mountains of Colorado, guided backpacking trips for youth in crisis in the hills of North Carolina, and led joyful beachside family activities as a Recreation Supervisor in South Carolina. She also spent many unforgettable summers in Wisconsin as a camp counselor and archery instructor (don't worry, she sings camp songs all year round). Eventually, Jacqui followed her heart west and found her forever home in Oregon.

This is Jacqui’s first year at Portland Forest School, and she’s incredibly excited to join the community as the Assistant Kindergarten Teacher. She brings with her a cross-country collection of experiences, and endless enthusiasm for working with children and helping them grow and learn in nature.

When she’s not teaching, Jacqui can usually be found baking, reading, crocheting and crafting, or out exploring Oregon’s trails. She lives with her wonderful fiancé, two cats, and a leopard gecko.

Amanda Giordano

she/they

Lead Teacher: Grade 1-2

Amanda grew up in a small suburb north of Chicago and had her first taste of teaching when helping a friend learn to snowboard on the “hills” of Wisconsin. After family trips to visit mountains out west and the rivers of Oregon, Amanda flew, as far as the coop would allow, to study Graphic Design at the University of Minnesota. During their summers, Amanda worked at a variety of summer camps developing and delivering art curriculum. From raft guiding the Clackamas River, teaching snowboarding in Utah, and leading marine biology tours as a naturalist in Alaska, Amanda realized their love for educating in outdoor settings. She began teaching at a Montessori preschool back in Utah. It was here that Amanda tapped back into their artistic background to teach art for kids age preschool through second grade.

With their alternative path to teaching, Amanda brings a silly yet insightful perspective to the classroom!

Forest School Staff: 3rd-5th grade Pod

Dale Williams

they/she

Lead Teacher: Grades 3-5

Dale grew up exploring the gully near Vernonia, Oregon, surrounded by farm animals and fueled by a boundless sense of adventure and curiosity. From a young age, Dale developed a deep connection to nature and became a dedicated student of earth skills—mastering practical crafts like weaving and survival techniques while nurturing a love for inquiry and discovery.

For her eighth birthday, Dale’s determination led her to request enrollment in the local Taekwondo studio. Although her mother initially hesitated, this decision sparked a ten-year journey that culminated in Dale becoming an assistant instructor and earning three black belts. This experience ignited her lifelong passion for teaching and mentoring.

As a teacher at Portland Forest School for over four years, Dale embodies the school’s vision by seamlessly integrating survival skills, science inquiry, and the traditional academic subjects into memorable lessons. Her ability to teach elementary school math alongside wilderness skills showcases her versatility and commitment to holistic education.

Dale’s infectious laugh can be heard throughout the halls (and forests) of Portland Forest School. Their well-rounded expertise and dedication to creating lasting memories inspire them to appreciate both academic growth and the wonders of the natural world.

Simon George

he/him

Lead Teacher: Grades 3-5

Simon was born and raised in Portland, Oregon where the trees and moss surrounding him had their own stories and history that he just had to learn. Spending his summers in camps he came to the realization that art and learning weren't exclusive to each other and made the decision to go into teaching. Simon received his bachelor's degree in education foundations from the University of Oregon, where his passion for learning grew and he then earned his masters degree in elementary education from Portland State University, with an emphasis on inclusion of the arts.

Mixing his passions for the outdoors, arts, and science lead him into environmental learning. He became a lead teacher for Outdoor School and his passion for teaching continued to grow. Simon has subbed in Portland Public School District and neighboring areas, particularly taking long term roles in environmental schools. Working with a variety of grades anywhere from kindergarten to seniors, he learned no matter the age of a person there’s something they can learn from you and you from them. Curiosity never stops. His fascination with science and knowledge that there are things only nature can teach us is what drives him to spark that curiosity in his students.

When he’s not teaching you can find Simon enjoying a comic book while camping, hanging out by the water, counting slugs on his hikes, traveling to new states to count the different species of trees he sees, or searching for new records in all the vintage shops Portland has to offer. His goal is to see at least three wildlife critters a day and hopes you see one today.

Forest School Staff: Middle School 6-8th

6-8th middle school teacher at private school in Portland, OR. Outdoor Forest School

Jian Rossi

he/him

Lead Teacher: Grades 6-8

Since 2019, Jian has been dedicated to teaching grade level students. Working as the 6th grade teacher at Orleans Elementary, he witnessed each student’s growth and transformation into confident eighth-graders! Jian worked at Orleans Elementary, amid a predominantly indigenous population. His experiences with the Mid-Klamath Watershed Council and outdoor programs underscore the benefits of alternative learning environments.

Transitioning beyond the classroom, Jian pursued teaching credentials through CalStateTEACH at CSU Fresno State, with a background in Software Architecture and Design from Southern Oregon University. His stint as a software engineer, followed by managing databases for the Yurok Tribe, provided insights applicable to diverse fields.

Jian engaged with the National Writing Project and The North Coast Arts Integration Project. The Making Thinking Visible professional development emphasized thinking skills, including perspective taking, through art-based routines. Redwood Writing Project further enriched my skills, with ongoing participation in the Multi-Grade Support Network, New Teacher Literacy Cohort, and certification in the Expository Writing and Reading Curriculum.

Jian comes to Forest School with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is most excited to mentor our Middle School students through passion and expertise!

Jesse Sergi

she/her

Lead Teacher: Grades 6-8 & Our School Wide Literacy Specialist

Jessa’s roots spread from the deep woods of Downeast Maine, the natural areas of Central Florida, the cities of Madrid, Spain and Santiago, Chile, the island of Taiwan and the Pacific Northwest. Her educator journey began at the ripe age of 12 where she taught young kids how to figure skate and fell in love with sharing her skills.

This love of teaching sparked her to pursue a degree in Elementary Education with concentrations in math and outdoor education from the University of Maine. Her personal love of reading and training in brain-based teaching led her to earn her Master’s degree in Reading Education from the University of South Florida in 2015 where her primary research was in the connection of language comprehension and outdoor education.

In 2019, Jessa found the Trackers Earth family and its Mariners guild where she teaches fishing, foraging, boating, and other ways of the waters during the summer.

Jessa has continued her career with Trackers Earth by teaching at Portland Forest School. With her Oregon Teaching License and Literacy Specialist background she has been supporting her students and community in data-driven experiential learning bundled with structured literacy. The world is truly the best classroom!

Teacher Wizard Jessa loves taking her Brave Monsters on adventures to navigate our world, grow kind communities, and confidently adapt to our ever changing environments.

Portland Forest School Staff

she/her

Art Teacher & After Care

Bri Graw

Bri Rain Graw grew up between Colorado and Oregon, where she developed a lifelong love for the outdoors, camping, and exploring wild places. She holds a Bachelors from Portland State University in Art and Literature. After graduation she went on many adventures exploring the world and participating in art residencies. From the arctic of Iceland to the Cloud Forest of Costa Rica, Bri began her journey of truly understanding the sanctuary nature has to offer and the wisdom of spending time in new cultures.

After her global journeys she returned to the United States to work as an Environmental Educator in Olympic National Park. She discovered a love of nature based teaching while taking her students hiking as they studied the ecology of old growth forest and river restoration. She then returned to her community in Portland and began to teach at Portland Waldorf school and Portland Public Schools. During this time Bri worked as a substitute teacher and coordinator for the outdoor trips. She also taught the Sophomore Expository writing class where she had the privilege to create her own curriculum and lesson plans that encouraged the students to observe their surroundings in order to find their unique voice for writing.

Bri is joining as our Art Teacher at Portland Forest School. She will help students explore creativity through drawing, painting, journaling, and hands-on projects inspired by nature. Bri believes every child is an artist and will create a supportive and inclusive space where students can express themselves and connect with the natural world through art. When she’s not teaching, Bri enjoys hiking, making art, and getting cozy with a good book.

Principle at private school in Portland, OR. Outdoor Forest School

he/him

Head of School

Ian Abraham

Ian has been teaching within the Portland Metropolitan area since 1999. He holds an MA in Environment and Community through Antioch University and has taught for many outdoor education programs, including M.E.S.D. Outdoor School, Cascadia Wild, Wolftree Inc., Tryon Creek and the Oregon Zoo. He spent 15 years at Portland Audubon as an Environmental Educator, Camp Director, and the Youth Programs Manager. He was our Forest School Principal from 2019-2021 and comes to us, most recently, from Trackers Earth as the General Manager.

His passions lie in the arts and science of bird language and wilderness living skills. Ian views the vision of Forest School as the present and future role model for academics wherein students learn Oregon core curriculum standards through immersive outdoor skills. He is excited to support the massive amount of talent that the Forest School teachers bring to each and every day while also working with our parents that trust the school with their child’s socio-emotional well-being and academic experience.