Employment Opportunities
Field Staff
Our field science educators create and implement the programs
that have made Headlands Institute one of California's leading
non-profit environmental education centers.
Our educators design original curriculum each week that is tailored to:
- The age and needs of the school group
- Our core educational framework
- The current season
They draw from each other's diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to deliver well-rounded programs to communities from the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and beyond.
Select Educator Biographies
Miho Aida
Miho Aida hails from Japan. She has worked as a field instructor and outreach classroom instructor at the Teton Science School in Wyoming. She also works as an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). She has an M.S. in Environmental Science from Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. Miho loves climbing, surfing, and skiing. Through these activities she connects with ocean and mountains.
Lalo Guerrero
Lalo Guerrero has worked as a field geologist in Arizona. There he engaged in active research, such as soil sampling and field mapping. He also worked as a naturalist and field science educator for the Lassen County Office of Education, leading programs for 5th graders with a focus on geology and biology. As a former backcountry ranger at Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lalo has introduced park visitors to glaciers, volcanoes, and human history. Lalo enjoys whitewater rafting, backpacking, and riding his bike.
Ely Huerta Ortiz
Ely Huerta Ortiz was born and raised in Mexico City. She studied Plant
Biology at University of California, Davis and has conducted
ethnobotany research on plants in Costa Rica and Bodega Bay. Her
research on the negative effects of invasive species on native species
used by indigenous California tribes to make baskets was published in Fremontia,
a journal of the California Native Plant Society. She was awarded The
Young Botanist Award in 2006 from The Botanical Society of America.
Before coming to Headlands Institute, Ely followed her desire to work
with children to Santa Barbara to work for an environmental education
program there. She enjoys salsa dancing, horseback riding, traveling,
and learning about new cultures.
Erik Kellner
Erik Kellner has worked as a classroom teacher for 7 years and as an outdoor educator for 10. He has also worked as a seasonal park ranger leading interpretive programs at Great Basin National Park. He has taught biology, chemistry, and physical science. Eric enjoys photography, birding, drawing, stargazing, backpacking, and playing the guitar.
Brian Westlund
Brian Westlund has worked as a science teacher in California and Maine, and has worked in the environmental education field at a variety of outdoor schools. He has served as a park ranger in Alaska and Wyoming. He has a B.A. in History from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a Preliminary Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Sacramento. Brian's interests include hiking, camping, and journal writing.
