Illinois Extension and Sea Grant K-12 education specialist joins the team

Posted June 5th, 2024 in Education, Featured, K-12 Education

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) welcomes Julie Fiorito, the program’s new K-12 education specialist. The focus of Fiorito’s work will be to increase Great Lakes literacy among Illinois and Indiana youth through development, delivery, and evaluation of science-based educational programming. 

“I believe that access to quality educational programming can give Lake Michigan communities the agency to create policy and cultural shifts to improve the health of the lake ecosystem,” said Fiorito. “I am excited to join IISG in this role to empower young learners in these communities through place-based education to become part of the solution to the environmental challenges the Great Lakes face.”

She will offer support to educators throughout the southern Lake Michigan basin in bringing the most recent aquatic research into their K-12 classrooms through immersive and engaging professional learning.

In her role with IISG, Fiorito will develop educational programming around Great Lakes issues, such as coastal resilience, invasive species, aquaculture, and food web ecology, that address local needs and increase science and Great Lakes literacy. She’ll also work directly with teachers in Illinois and Indiana to develop resources and opportunities including curricula, field days, and teacher training workshops.

Fiorito is skilled in a variety of education methodologies and has extensive experience as a high school teacher planning, directing, and coordinating various educational programs. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in biology teacher education from Illinois State University in 2012 and a Master of Science in teaching biological science from University of Illinois in 2017. 

She will be housed in Illinois Extension and located in Chicago at the Illini Center. 

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a partnership between NOAA, University of Illinois Extension, and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources, bringing science together with communities for solutions that work. Sea Grant is a network of 34 science, education and outreach programs located in every coastal and Great Lakes state, Lake Champlain, Puerto Rico and Guam.

IISG Instagram

Four science educators from Illinois and Indiana have been selected for the 2025 Shipboard Science Immersion on Lake Michigan July 7-13. The educators will spend a full week alongside researchers aboard the EPA research vessel Lake Guardian. Afterwards, they will bring Great Lakes science back to their classroom.

Learn more and meet the four incredible teachers representing Illinois and Indiana at the link in bio.

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Four science educators from Illinois and Indiana have been selected for the 2025 Shipboard Science Immersion on Lake Michigan July 7-13. The educators will spend a full week alongside researchers aboard the EPA research vessel Lake Guardian. Afterwards, they will bring Great Lakes science back to their classroom. Learn more and meet the four incredible teachers representing Illinois and Indiana at the link in bio.

🌿 Educators—Explore Restoration in Action!
Join us Thursday, July 31 at Purdue Northwest (Hammond, IN) for a FREE full-day workshop diving into the transformation of the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern.
🚍 Tour restored sites
🧠 Engage with VR curriculum
📚 Earn 6 PD hours
🥐 Breakfast & lunch included
🔗 Register now at the link in bio and bring real-world science to your classroom.

Register by July 21st.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18002997206789887
🌿 Educators—Explore Restoration in Action! Join us Thursday, July 31 at Purdue Northwest (Hammond, IN) for a FREE full-day workshop diving into the transformation of the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern.🚍 Tour restored sites🧠 Engage with VR curriculum📚 Earn 6 PD hours🥐 Breakfast & lunch included🔗 Register now at the link in bio and bring real-world science to your classroom.Register by July 21st.

Attention STEM educators! Our new aquaponics curriculum is here! Designed for 9-12th grade classrooms with operating aquaponics systems, this curriculum, created by educators for educators, teaches STEM concepts through the lens of aquaponics, aligning with NGSS and Great Lakes Literacy Principles. Learn more at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17977255709728688
Attention STEM educators! Our new aquaponics curriculum is here! Designed for 9-12th grade classrooms with operating aquaponics systems, this curriculum, created by educators for educators, teaches STEM concepts through the lens of aquaponics, aligning with NGSS and Great Lakes Literacy Principles. Learn more at the link in bio.

Big news from Illinois‑Indiana Sea Grant! We’re thrilled to announce Dr. Stuart Carlton, our Assistant Director since 2018, will step into the Director role on July 14, 2025. Join us in congratulating Stuart, and read on at the link in bio to find out more about the transition!

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17883316473331582
Big news from Illinois‑Indiana Sea Grant! We’re thrilled to announce Dr. Stuart Carlton, our Assistant Director since 2018, will step into the Director role on July 14, 2025. Join us in congratulating Stuart, and read on at the link in bio to find out more about the transition!
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