Meet the Team

Experts in Early Childhood. Champions for Sustainability. Advocates for the Future.
At Growing Green Curriculum, our team blends deep experience in early education, sustainability science, and advocacy to help young children build meaningful connections with the Earth. Together, we design curriculum and resources that support educators and empower children to become compassionate, capable stewards of the planet.

We are a community rooted in care, curiosity + a whole lot of laughter.
Our team shares a commitment to joyful, nature-based learning + a belief that every child deserves wonder-filled childhoods.Together, we create curriculum that feels like a warm hug ... educational,  playful + deeply meaningful.

Who we are Beyond the Titles

The hearts, hands, and wild ideas behind Growing Green Curriculum.
Meet the passionate educators, nature lovers, and creatives who bring our vision to life ... one muddy adventure at a time.

Dr. Shauna M. Adams, Ed.D.

Professor of Early Childhood Education
Executive Director, Center for Early Learning
School of Education and Health Sciences, University of Dayton
Bombeck Family Learning Center

Dr. Shauna Adams is a national leader in early childhood education and the visionary behind Growing Green Curriculum. With a career devoted to child-centered learning, Shauna champions the integration of sustainability into everyday classroom practice. Her leadership has shaped the Bombeck Family Learning Center into a living model of what it means to teach sustainability from birth.

Finds inspiration in early morning garden lessons and believes that every sustainable habit begins with a child’s question. Loves hot coffee, leaf‑mulching experiments, and dreaming up outdoor classroom adventures.

Jessica Proud

Marketing and Communications, Center for Early Learning and Bombeck Family Learning Center
Sustainability Advocate and Curriculum Contributor

Jessica is the creative and strategic force behind Growing Green Curriculum’s outreach and messaging. A longtime vegan, environmentalist, and animal rights advocate, she brings passion and purpose to every project. Jessica uses her voice to connect families and educators to powerful, age-appropriate sustainability practices and stories.

Draws power from forest walks and believes every outreach message should tell a story. Loves muddy boots, colorful plant‑based snacks, and crafting vibrant ideas for eco‑conscious families.

Dr. Don L. Pair, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Hanley Sustainability Institute
Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton

A lifelong advocate for environmental education, Dr. Don Pair brings scientific insight and systemic thinking to the team. His work at the Hanley Sustainability Institute focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability, and his partnership with early learning educators ensures that climate action starts early and meaningfully.

Gets his best ideas while rock-hunting on nature trails and believes geology lessons should include a compelling Earth story. Loves crisp mornings, mineral‑picking, and planning cross‑disciplinary learning journeys.

Ian Adams​

Preschool Teacher & Curriculum Specialist
B.S. in Education with a Science Focus

Ian Adams brings hands-on classroom experience and a love for science to the Growing Green Curriculum team. As a preschool educator and curriculum specialist, Ian is deeply committed to nurturing children’s natural curiosity. He designs engaging, sensory-rich activities that help young learners explore weather, ecosystems, plants, and conservation in ways that feel playful and purposeful.

Thrives in weather-watching puddles and believes every STEM lesson should begin with a wild “What if…?” Loves morning coffees on classroom porches, creating mud-pie science stations, and sparking sensory-rich investigations.

Emily Nye, M.Ed.​

Early Childhood Program Administrator & Systems Consultant
Emily Nye comes to Growing Green Curriculum with nearly 20 years of experience in early childhood education as a teacher, program administrator, and educational consultant. With a Master's degree in Education, she brings a strong operational lens to our mission and ensures that our work remains deeply reflective of and connected to the rhythms of early childhood classrooms. Emily is committed to weaving language and literacy experiences into nature-based learning and sustainability education for our youngest learners. As a mother of two young children, she brings both a professional and personal passion for creating learning environments that are sustainable, equitable, and supportive of children, families, and educators. 

Finds joy in propagating plants and believes life is best spent exploring the outdoors. Loves nature walks, rainy mornings, and creating environments where imagination can take root.

Together, we are Building a Foundation for the Next Generation ... Rooted in Wonder, Equity + Sustainablity