Revolutionizing Public-Private School Partnerships with Nature-Based Early Childhood Learning

Partnerships between public and private early childhood interventions are common and often encouraged to foster benefits and funding opportunities for both parties. What might this look like for nature-based education programs? In this exciting Season 7 opener, Dr. Rhea sits down with long time colleagues, Pete Silvius and Amanda McMickle, who are paving the way for nature-based, public-private school partnerships right here in Texas with their approved partnership between Seguin ISD’s Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center and the Will Smith Zoo School of San Antonio. These two truly passionate leaders and advocates for outdoor learning will discuss how their partnership came to be, challenges they’ve faced along the way, and the recent state bill that helped their vision flourish. Pete Silvius is the Director of Whole Child Initiatives for Seguin ISD in Seguin, Texas. This is Pete’s 28th year working in public education.  He has a background in Physical Education and Special Education but his passion is Outdoor Education.  Pete is honored to work for Seguin ISD going on 23 years and is especially thankful for support of innovative programing including the LiiNK Project, Adventure School, The Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center, and Adventure Camp Summer Programs.  Pete is active within the Seguin community serving on the board for the Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center, Parks and Recreation Advisory, Planning and Zoning, and the Guadalupe Appraisal District.  Pete is a founder of the newly formed Community Cycles non-profit organization in Seguin.  Pete is married and has two grown children.  Amanda McMickle is the Vice President of Education at San Antonio Zoo. She has been a leader of nature schools ranging from public to private, early childhood to Kinder-6th grade. Amanda is the founder of ⁠Southwest Early Childhood Outdoors (SECO) which is a regional group that meets monthly to discuss nature-based philosophy, best practices, and advocacy. Amanda currently sits on the leadership board of ⁠Natural Start Alliance⁠ and the governing boards of ⁠Families in Nature⁠ and ⁠International Play Association-USA Chapter⁠. Amanda is a doctoral candidate in a program at the University of the Incarnate Word entitled Adult Education, Social Innovation, and Entrepreneurship