Joanna Cooke

Joanna’s journey in education has centered around connecting young people to nature. In 1997, she began her career as an outdoor educator in California. She spent ten years teaching school groups in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and working as an interpretive park ranger in Yosemite National Park. She has written six books for young readers, all focusing on the human connection to nature and science. Joanna holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Mount Holyoke College, an MFA in Writing for Young People from Lesley University, and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Prescott College. She and her family have lived in Jackson for 17 years. She teaches third grade at Munger Mountain Elementary School, a Spanish dual immersion program in the Teton County School District. In looking ahead to her future with Mountain Academy, Joanna is especially excited to cultivate relevant, student-driven, place-based learning that fosters curiosity in the self and our world.