“The measure of success of our programs at BRIT is that people leave with a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world around them.  It is vital to our health and well being that we stay connected to nature.”

     

     

    Pat Harrison
    V.P. and Director of Education

     

    Pat Harrison oversees the education program at BRIT, which includes both public and school outreach for learners of all ages.  She provides general direction for the development, implementation and administration of all the Education program's responsibilities, including school and family education opportunities, public lectures and academic seminars, and environmental science. 

      
    As a life-long teacher and advocate for nature education, Pat's efforts are focused on educating the public about the importance of biodiversity and the role plants play in the health and well being of all living things.  She works with a talented education team to deliver dynamic and diverse education programming for students, teachers, and life-long learners, both locally and across the state.
     

    Pat came from Grapevine Middle School in 1995 to help develop an education outreach program.  After two years as Education Coordinator, she was named Head of Education to oversee all education and outreach efforts. In 1999, she was promoted to Assistant Director and in 2010 to Vice President, Director of Education.  As Vice President, she assists with major projects to support the institution and has been actively engaged in the planning and fundraising for BRIT’s new home.  Pat received recognition for her contributions to education with a “Great Women of Texas”  award in 2004  2006 and a 2008 Legacy of Women award.  She has a master’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
     

    Trends/Issues/Expertise

     

    • Sustainability education for schools
    • The children in nature movement to ensure children spend quality time outdoors connecting with the natural world
    •  Developing high quality ethnobotany curriculum materials for K-12 schools
    • Place-based education (PBE) which is an educational philosophy that values students’ local community as one of the primary resources for learning. PBE utilizes the natural environment and the local community (culture, economy, history) to promote learning across the curriculum. PBE is experiential, project-based and always related to something in the real world.

     

    Projects

    • Developing a new teacher learning center, The BRIT SEED School, specially designed to support educators in connecting children to nature through the use of outdoor classrooms, nature, and urban environments for learning.
    • Creating an educational exhibit and outreach program for the interpretation and demonstration of the innovative sustainable roof and landscape that will draw visitors and help them understand applied conservation relevant to their own lives. 

     

    Phone: (817) 335-4372
    Fax: (817) 332-4112
    Email: pharrison@brit.org

     

    Direct Media Inquiries To:
    Chris Chilton
    (817) 546-8691
    cchilton@brit.org