Green Step Mentors
Guiding schools through successful, meaningful, and sustainable projects since 2003.
Mentors
Our mentors come from diverse backgrounds and professions, showing just how broad the field of environmental education can be. Our mentors include 4-H leaders, classroom teachers, master gardeners, naturalists, conservation district staff, entomologists, water resource agents, park rangers, climate scientists, state employees, college professors, and dedicated volunteers—all united by a shared commitment to bringing sustainability into your classroom.
To find a mentor, select your county below. If there isn't a mentor specific to your county (YET!),
our statewide and regional mentors are open to schools in all or multiple counties.
Statewide Mentors
Esther Wagner
ewagner@palmettopride.org
PalmettoPride
Education Program Manager
Ari Hippensteal
hippensteala@dnr.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Natural Resources
Conservation Educator
Melissa Griffin
griffinm@dnr.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Natural Resources
CoCoRaHS
Assistant State Climatologist
Morgan Treon
morgan.treon@scseagrant.org
SC Sea Grant Consortium
Seeds to Shoreline
Marine Education Specialist
Erin Rosebrock
erin.rosebrock@des.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Environmental Services
Adopt-a-Stream Program Coordinator
Lexi Toole
alexandra.thomason@des.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Environmental Services
Adopt-a-Stream Program Coordinator
Jaclin DuRant
jaclin.durant@des.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Environmental Services
Adopt-a-Stream Program Coordinator
Beata DeWitt
beata.dewitt@des.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Environmental Services
Bureau of Air Quality
Environmental Health Manager
Beth Foley
foleye@dnr.sc.gov
SC Dept. Natural Resources
Conservation Education Coordinator
Regional Mentors
Mary Rhett Davidson
davidsonmr@dnr.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Natural Resources
Trout in the Classroom
Aquatic Education Coordinator
(Anderson, Lexington, Oconee, Pickens, and Richland)
Sydni Wilson
swilson@kmbsc.org
Keep the Midlands Beautiful
Program Coordinator
(Lexington and Richland)
Maeve Snyder
snailseednativeplants@gmail.com
SC Native Plant Society
Member
(Lowcountry)
Rick Huffman
rick_huffman@earthdesignssc.com
SC Native Plant Society
Member
(Upstate)
Jay Keck
jay@scwf.org
SC Wildlife Federation
Industry Habitat Manager
(Richland and Lexington)
Ben Sease
bsease@ed.sc.gov
SC Dept. of Education
Farm to School
Program Coordinator
(Calhoun and Lexington)
Leslie Wilson
lwilson@scfc.gov
SC Forestry Commission
Asst. Environmental Education Coordinator
(Calhoun, Lexington, and Richland)
David Jenkins
djenkins@scfc.gov
SC Forestry Commission
Entomologist
(Calhoun, Lexington, and Richland)
Savannah Jordan
savannah@scwf.org
SC Wildlife Federation
Habitat Education Manager
(Richland and Lexington)
Abbeville County Mentors
Lucy Charping
lucyw@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
4-H Youth Development Agent
Kaitlyn Rhodes
kaitlyn.rhodes@delahowe.sc.gov
SC Governor's School for Agriculture
Teacher
Aiken County Mentors
Brianna Bailey
bbailey@aikencountysc.gov
Aiken County Stormwater
Engineering Technician
Holly DeVault
holly.devault@uga.edu
Savannah River Ecology Lab
Outreach Coordinator
Sonya Terry
aikensoilandwater@gmail.com
Aiken Soil and Water Conservation
District Manager
Kandace Cave
kcave@aikencountysc.gov
Keep Aiken County Beautiful
Program Coordinator
Kelly Schepens
kellys@usca.edu
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
Director of Student Programs
Anderson County Mentors
AnnMarie Pauley
annmarie.pauley@andersonswcd.org
Anderson Soil and Water Conservation
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Steven O'Shields
oshiel3@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
Water Resources Agent
Beaufort County Mentors
Taylor Brewer
taylor.brewer@bcgov.net
Beaufort County Government
Stormwater Program Manager
Michelle Onoff
michelle.bswcd@gmail.com
Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation
Education Specialist
Sara O'Conner
sarae.bswcd@gmail.com
Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation
Education Specialist
Valentina Palacio-Ruiz
laura.palacioruiz@bcgov.net
Beaufort County Government
Environmental Education Coordinator
Debby Way
jway_25@hotmail.com
Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation
Education Specialist
Leslie Meola
bftswcd@gmail.com
Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation
District Manager
Calhoun County Mentors
Mary Dixon
mdixon@calhouncounty.sc.gov
Calhoun Soil and Water Conservation
District Coordinator
Charleston County Mentors
E.V. Bell
elizabeth.bell@scseagrant.org
SC Sea Grant Consortium
Education and Outreach Manager
Darlington County Mentors
Geraldine Cuypers
gcuyper@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
Water Resources Agent
Dani Chaplan
marie.chaplin@sc.nacdnet.net
Darlington Soil and Water Conservation
Administrative Assistant
Dorchester County Mentors
Tammi McAlhany
tammi@mcalhany@usda.gov
Dorchester Soil and Water Conservation
Office Coordinator
Florence County Mentors
Allison Anderson
alison@keepflorencebeautiful.org
Keep Florence Beautiful
Volunteer & Education Coordinator
Geraldine Cuypers
gcuyper@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
Water Resources Agent
Greenwood County Mentors
Amber Nappier
anappier@greenwoodsc.gov
Greenwood County Government
Litter Prevention Coordinator
Greenville County Mentors
Samantha Hart
samanatha@conesteepreserve.org
Conestee Nature Preserve
Environmental Educator
Summer Gagnon
sgagnon@greenvillecounty.org
Greenville County
Litter Prevention Coordinator
Mary Lou Jones
mjones4498@gmail.com
Greenville Council of Garden Clubs
Volunteer
Jackie Hong
hosyemooi@hotmail.com
Taylors Elementary
Volunteer
Kendall Juell
kjuell@greenvillecounty.org
Greenville Soil and Water Conservation
Stormwater Programs Coordinator
Andrew Talkish
atalkish@greenvillecounty.org
Greenville County
Sustainability Program Manager
Horry County Mentors
Mike Walker
mwalker@scprt.com
Huntington Beach State Park
Interpretive Ranger
Kendra Dickerson
kdickerson@solidwasteauthority.org
Horry County Solid Waste Authority
Recycling Coordinator
Kershaw County Mentors
Ashley Branham
aebranh@clemson.edu
Nature as Teacher
Interim Program Coordinator
Keith Willoughby
director@eeasc.org
EEASC
Executive Director
Laurens County Mentors
Tanya Towne
ttowne@laurens55.org
Joe Adair Outdoor Education Center
Director
Courtney Stonell
cstonell@laurenscounty.org
Keep Laurens County Beautiful
Affiliate Director
Lexington County Mentors
Kassidy Roof
krooflswcd@gmail.com
Lexington Soil and Water Conservation
District Manager
Teresa Randolph
teamlandolph@gmail.com
Team Landolph
Executive Director
Kate Resinski
kresinski@lexingtoncountysc.gov
Lexington County
Stormwater Outreach Assistant
Newberry County Mentors
Mallory Jane Fulmer
mjpitts@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
4-H Youth Development Agent
Ginny Holt
ginny.holt395@gmail.com
Master Gardener & Naturalist
Volunteer
Crista Lukoski
newberrysoil&water@gmail.com
Newberry Soil and Water Conservation
District Coordinator
Oconee County Mentors
Lil Ledford
ledfor7@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
4-H Youth Development Agent
Cheryl Murphy
cvmurphy35@gmail.com
Master Gardener
Volunteer
Orangeburg County Mentors
Diane Curlee
dcurlee@orangeburgcounty.org
Orangeburg Soil and Water Conservation
Education Coordinator
Richland County Mentors
Jessica Thompson
thompson.jessica@richlandcountysc.gov
Richland County Government
Conservation Education Analyst
Rosemary Martin-Jones
rosema2@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
4-H Youth Development Agent
Leonora Dillon
leonora.dillon@columbiasc.gov
Columbia Water
Communications Coordinator
Jennifer Mancke
jenmanckeearthed@gmail.com
Richland Soil and Water Conservation
Green Steps Mentor
Spartanburg County Mentors
Amanda Karls
akarls@uscupstate.edu
USC Upstate
Director of Institutional Excellence &
Compliance
John Ratterree
ratterrj@uscupstate.edu
USC Upstate Watershed Ecology Center
Operations Coordinator
Sumter County Mentors
Cassie Castleberry
castleb@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
Water Resources Agent
Cathy Perry
greengirlteach@gmail.com
Volunteer
Anna Makiewicz
sumterswcd@gmail.com
Sumter Soil and Water Conservation
District Director
York County Mentors
Kristin Kunde
kkunde@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
4-H Youth Development Agent
Caroline Adams
yorkswcoordinator@gmail.com
York Soil and Water Conservation
District Coordinator
Abigail Taylor
atayl27@clemson.edu
Clemson Extension
Urban Horticulture Agent
Why become a mentor
How to become a mentor:
Timeline