Posts by Tracey Ann Ritchie & Kira Heeschen

Tracey Ann Ritchie & Kira Heeschen

Tracey joined Earth Day Network as the director of education in January 2018. Most recently she was adjunct faculty at the University of Florida and has held positions from Florida to North Carolina, managing and facilitating environmental education programs. Tracey holds a PhD from the University of Florida, where she focused on developing systems-thinking skills in students and teachers to more effectively communicate about complex environmental issues such as climate change. When Tracey is not in the office, she can be found exploring natural areas around D.C. with her dog, Dakota.

Kira Heeschen engages and mobilizes students around the world in stewardship activities and supports teachers in building environmental literacy in their classrooms. Kira earned her bachelor’s degree in earth science from James Madison University and her master’s degree in environmental education at Antioch University New England. Kira spent a summer serving as an AmeriCorps member in the Denali National Park and Preserve, where she experienced a close encounter with a grizzly bear. Kira enjoys checking in on the brown bears of Alaska and other animals around the world via online live streams and hosting stretch breaks for her coworkers.