Wesley has a passion for authentic science education that empowers students to explore the world, ask big questions, and engineer sustainable solutions. He developed a love for science at a young age by observing tidepools along the California Coast and adventuring in the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology at California State University, Chico, Wesley went to work conducting biological research. He studied forest carnivores in the Lake Tahoe Basin, cloned DNA in Santa Cruz, and filmed endangered coral reef communities in French Polynesia.
In 2005, Wesley earned his teaching credential and began his journey as an educator at an acclaimed project-based school in San Diego. His most impactful projects have blended stewardship, digital media, and student-led discovery to create lasting impacts on the local community. Wesley’s middle school students have published a book funded by National Geographic, conducted photo surveys to create a zero-waste campus, entered 5k races as a class, built playground equipment to strengthen the school community, produced videos of microscopic organisms, used woodworking skills to build giant arthropods, and partnered with non-profit organizations to conduct fieldwork in wild places.
When not teaching, Wesley can be found wherever there are big rocks, winding trails, or scenic whitewater canyons. He lives in Brevard with his wife and four-year-old son.
