Portland, Ore. – The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) has promoted Rikki Heath to director of K-12 education programs following the retirement of the former director of K-12 education, Norie Dimeo-Ediger, earlier this year.
As director of K-12 education, Heath, who has worked closely with Dimeo-Ediger since joining OFRI nine years ago as its environmental educator, will lead the Institute’s K-12 education program, which provides forest-related curriculum materials and other educational resources, teacher professional development and field trip opportunities. Heath’s responsibilities will also include collaborating with other organizations dedicated to forestry, environmental and natural resources education that OFRI supports and partners with to help provide forest education to K-12 students across Oregon.
Heath’s first official day as director of K-12 education programs was Oct. 14. She is an Oregon-certified teacher who taught elementary physical education and served as a Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps crew leader before she was hired by OFRI in 2015.
Since joining OFRI as its environmental educator, Heath has overseen the Institute’s field forestry and natural resources education programs for students at the OFRI-managed Rediscovery Forest, a demonstration forest inside The Oregon Garden in Silverton. Her other responsibilities have included being the lead organizer of Oregon Envirothon, an annual high school natural resources skills competition that OFRI sponsors, and partnering with other environmental education organizations to host an outdoor school for Salem-area students.
Heath holds a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology with a focus on health education for grades 6-12 and physical education for K-12 from Lewis-Clark State College. She also earned a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on environmental education from Concordia University.
About the Oregon Forest Resources Institute:
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute supports the forest sector and the stewardship of natural resources by advancing Oregonians’ understanding of the social, environmental and economic benefits of our forests.