Portland Forest School Teachers, Staff & Board
Forest School Staff: Kindergarten-2nd Pod
Madeline Boyer
she/her
Lead Teacher: Grades K-2
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.
Madeline joined the Forest School community as the Kindergarten teacher last year, and 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.
Jesse Sergi
she/her
Lead Teacher: Grades K-2 & 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.
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.
Brian Leonard
he/him
Lead Teacher: Grades 3-5
Brian grew up among the blue oaks and manzanitas of his family farm in Northern California. His childhood was spent getting lost, building forts out of sticks, and being mentored by a pride of house cats. Hmm, upon reflection that is mostly how he spends his time now as well.
Sandwiched between his childhood and the present, Brian took many exciting turns and advances in his journey toward the Portland Forest School. He studied geology at the University of Oregon, which cemented his love of physical science and took him to some of the most dynamic places on Earth. His creative writing fuels his joie de vivre and he has earned several local awards for screenwriting.
Brian’s studies in education at Concordia University expanded and honed his teaching skills and his experiences teaching middle school Integrated Science and high school Physics gave him an outlet to share his fascinations with young people. He also completed the Forest School Teacher Training adult program at Trackers and believes that nature can be the best teacher if you know how to listen to its lessons.
Brian is continually mesmerized by the rocks beneath his feet, the stars above his head, and all of the wonderful people living between.
Forest School Staff: Middle School 6-8th
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!
Portland Forest School Staff
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.
PFS Board
Meet our Board
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Kate Mitchell
she/her
Volunteer Office Manager/Secretary
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Amanda Mayther
she/they
President
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Nisha Supahan
she/her
Treasurer
Volunteer social media manager, website creator & Marketing help
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Donald McLellan
he/him
Secretary
