Meet Our Team

Our Founder and Executive Director Lisa spent her early childhood roaming the foothills of Los Angeles, climbing backyard fruit trees, and hunting for ants in her family’s garden. She comes from a long line of farmers and naturalists but only rediscovered her love of birds, insects, and trees as an early educator. Before launching the Acorn School in 2023, she spent a decade in Reggio-inspired and DCPS schools teaching children ages two to five. She holds an MA in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University, an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Certificate in Early Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is also a certified Pollinator Stewart and Master Naturalist. She has spent many hours hiking, camping, and exploring with her husband and two children, and is a novice beekeeper, amateur photographer, obsessive gardener, and avid collector of natural specimens.​

Instructor José, an Ecuadorian environmental conservationist with 13 years of experience, has dedicated his career to protecting natural spaces and fostering connections between people and nature. His expertise spans environmental interpretation, protected area management, and conservation project development, with a particular emphasis on integrating Indigenous communities in preservation efforts. Before relocating to the United States, José served as manager of Yasuni National Park, Ecuador’s second-largest national park in the Amazon, renowned as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. He holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in environmental Conservation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied the intersection of social and humanitarian sciences to address environmental challenges. José has collaborated with governments and leading NGOs—including Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Conservation International (CI), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)—to develop conservation initiatives rooted in community engagement. Currently, he works as an environmental interpreter for Montgomery Parks, MD, leading nature programs and camping workshops for children and adults. Through environmental interpretation, José combines his passion for illustrating nature with conservation education, using nature journals as a tool to inspire curiosity, artistic expression, and a deeper connection to the land.

Leddy is originally from Charleston, South Carolina and spent his childhood going to the beach and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. A recent graduate of the George Washington University with a double major in Public Health and Women’s and Gender Studies, he is pursuing an MPH in Maternal and Child Health. Leddy loves working with children, especially in the realms of outdoor access and food justice. Before joining Acorn in 2025, he worked as a summer camp counselor, a classroom assistant, and a youth mentor at an urban garden. He also enjoys playing guitar, doing arts and crafts, and going to vintage markets. This summer, he is looking forward to fostering kids’ connections to the natural world and to each other.

Passionate about urban agriculture and nature, Francesca has a large backyard garden where she grows paws paws, serviceberries, figs, and more and has volunteered in the youth garden at the National Arboretum and with Common Good City Farm. She spent many of her formative years on the beach in Oregon and recently hiked throughout the Andes. She has been teaching yoga in the District for 15 years. Francesca has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Italian from the University of Georgia. Francesca Valente is an experienced non-profit staffer, having worked with small non-profits across the District. Prior to joining Acorn Outdoor Learning, Francesca led Blue Drop, DC Water’s non-profit arm, accelerating the organization’s growth and professionalizing its financial, talent and technology operations.

Sophia is a rising senior and psychology major at Fordham University. She grew up on Capitol Hill after spending the first five years of her life on a houseboat in Southwest D.C. Sophia believes nothing is more peaceful than being on the water and loves boating, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and anything that involves being outside and experiencing nature. One of her favorite things is to camp at Assateague national seashore, where horses run wild! Despite her love of nature, Sophia is a city girl at heart and enjoys exploring in her hometown of Washington, D.C., as well as in her adopted hometown of the Bronx.

Although she was born and raised in Massachusetts, Maya quickly fell in love with the DMV area after moving to Maryland to study Biology at the University of Maryland. Drawn to the natural world from an early age, she discovered a particular fascination with entomology—the study of insects—which has become both an academic interest and a favorite hobby. If an insect crosses her path, Maya is likely to stop and admire it, identify it, and share what makes it so remarkable. She especially enjoys introducing children to the often-overlooked world of insects and helping them discover the important roles these tiny creatures play in local ecosystems. Beyond her love of bugs, Maya enjoys trying new foods and drinks, discovering new music, and cycling through a wide variety of hobbies and creative pursuits. She hopes to continue exploring and learning in the beautiful—and wonderfully buggy—Maryland and DC area while sharing her enthusiasm for nature with others.

Katherine is a mom of two and an early childhood educator. After spending a decade in pre-k classrooms in Washington, DC, she shifted to a chapter of adventuring with her little family. With a passion for child development and Masters in education and literacy instruction, Katherine loves to find places with her kids that encourage and inspire creativity, imagination, challenge, and exploration. She feels deeply that even the smallest outdoor adventures can yield the biggest benefits. Her favorite spots for learning experiences are nature centers, libraries and cozy cafes.

Growing up in Washington State, Jackson spent as much time as possible exploring, learning, and playing outdoors. His passion for the natural world led him to study Public Policy and Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, where he deepened his understanding of the relationship between people, communities, and the environment. Since then, Jackson has combined his love of teaching and nature through a variety of outdoor education roles, including working at a summer camp for people with disabilities and an outdoor school in North Cascades National Park. He is especially passionate about expanding access to outdoor experiences and helping children discover that they are not separate from nature, but an important part of it. Outside of work, Jackson enjoys running, biking, jumping into lakes whenever he gets the chance, playing chess, and watching and playing sports—especially soccer.

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Octaivia discovered her passion for birds after moving to Houston, Texas and noticing the striking differences in bird species across regions. What began as curiosity quickly grew into a calling. Now based in the DMV area, she is a bird guide, experiential organizer, and environmental justice advocate who helps people connect with the natural world through meaningful outdoor experiences. Octaivia serves as the Minister of Birding for Audubon’s DC Bird Alliance Chapter, where she curates programs that explore the richness of bird life in urban environments and foster a deeper appreciation for local ecosystems. Her tours have been featured in The Washington Post and at the National Press Club. Through her work, she advocates for environmental equity and greater access to green spaces, inspiring others to protect birds and the habitats they rely on.