Emily moved to Billings from Dayton, Ohio in the fall of 2014 and quickly found the Center through the participation of her two sons in the Nature Nuts program. She has a degree in Natural and Historical Interpretation and Applied Science from Hocking Technical College and has provided conservation education programs to local communities ever since, including with the Five Rivers MetroParks. Billings is the farthest west Emily has been and she’s excited to be part of the Montana Audubon Center.
Sarah is a native Montana girl with a love for adventure. Formerly a classroom teacher, she enjoys the freedom of discovery that environmental education allows. As a parent and outdoor educator of over 16 years, Sarah believes that spending time outdoors is vital to children’s development and well-being. In 2015, Sarah was honored by the Montana Environmental Education Association (MEEA) as Environmental Educator of the Year. She is also a certified Montana Master Naturalist and is passionate about learning outside and enjoying all the world has to offer.
Hannah has worked at the Center since joining our Summer Camp staff in 2016. Her immediate past position was at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, GA, in school programs similar to those we provide in Billings. Hannah is particularly knowledgeable about raptors, having worked with live birds at the George Miksch Sutton Aviation Research Center at the University of Oklahoma. Hannah is now leading our youth programs, including Homeschool, Afterschool, and Summer Camps.
Kylie was born and raised in Utah on a “fun farm” and spent years living and traveling throughout the South and Southwest. Montana captured her heart and she put down roots here in 2014. One of Kylie’s children has been in our preschool since the very beginning. She knows a lot about what goes on at preschool and has been honored to watch it grow over the years. Kylie is an artist, community leader, and mom of 4. In her free time, you can find her camping, hiking, exploring new places with her kids, and checking out local events.
Ashayla was born and raised in Billings, Montana. She developed her love of nature and the outdoors by exploring and being immersed in the area. That love was further developed through a degree in Environmental Studies at Montana State University-Billings. During her senior year, she started interning at the Montana Audubon Center, a place she fondly remembered as a kid. Through her time interning, she developed a love for the Center and officially started working here during the summer and eventually transitioned to preschool. Teaching in such an environment is very enriching and rewarding. When she isn’t teaching, you can find her reading, jamming out to music, and exploring the great outdoors.
Rock was born and raised in Billings. He graduated from West High School and Eastern Montana College (MSUB) with dual degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. After graduation, he joined the Peace Corps where he served in Paraguay for two years as a Volunteer and one year as the Education Coordinator. During that time Rock worked closely with the Ministry of Education to establish special education services for the country. After Peace Corps, he spent almost the entire next year just traveling through South America. Later, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and taught at one of the high schools. Three years later, Rock left for Crete, Greece to work for the Department of Defense at a military base where he taught first grade. Four years later, he returned to New Mexico and again taught at one of the high schools. After, Rock moved to Nashville where he went to Vanderbilt University to earn his Masters’s Degree in Special Education. He lived in Nashville for over 20 years and then eventually returned to Billings. Rock loves teaching at the Audubon Center!
