Nicole “Nic” Collier

nic@manzanitaschool.org

Nicole is excited to join Manzanita after teaching middle and high school science courses at a private school in Los Angeles for four years. Here, she developed curriculum, served as a cross country coach, and pioneered opportunities for experiential learning and volunteering. She holds a BA in Environmental Geosciences from Smith College. After completing her degree, she moved to the wilds of Alaska to serve as a ranger in Katmai National Park, a position that fostered her twin passions for teaching and the natural world. Nicole particularly loves expeditionary and place-based education, and has led summer trips for students in Iceland, Alaska, and Hawaii. She continues to volunteer locally in restoration ecology projects at Channel Islands National Park. Though rooted in science, she loves incorporating her other interests of writing and music whenever possible, and believes that these interdisciplinary connections are essential for student self-discovery. When not teaching, Nicole loves road trips through the desert, watercolor painting, running the hills of the Santa Monica mountains, and exploring the corners of the earth. Nicole will be joining the High School team, teaching Unit of Study with Mr. Sands as well as Pre-Calculus.