About Us
Executive Director: Danielle Beaty Adler, Ed.D.
As Executive Director of San Diego Youth Science, Danielle Beaty Adler is a passionate advocate for advancing and expanding science education for persons of all ages, with particular interest in youth science education. Her goal is that youth foster a “love of science.” Danielle’s formal academic background is founded in basic science with a bachelor’s degree in marine science from San Diego State University. Her career path ultimately returned her to academics where she graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree in science education. Always a lifelong learner, she recently completed her Doctorate in Science Education Leadership from San Diego State in 2022.
Danielle’s early career involved work with the U.S. federal government’s National Marine Fisheries Service at NOAA utilizing genetic analysis to track the worldwide migratory patterns of sea turtles and dolphins, as well as study the populations of gray whales traversing the west coast of North America utilizing thermal sensor tracking. With a move to New York, Danielle gained marine regulatory and resource management experience with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Her responsibilities included field enforcement of the safe management of the clam fishery in Long Island Sound. Upon returning to San Diego, Danielle built upon her experiences as a marine science educator at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps where she functioned as the School Programs Coordinator. She developed and oversaw the design and implementation of the Aquarium’s science programs for K-12 schools in San Diego. These programs were specifically focused on meeting California State Content Standards for science through incorporation of cutting edge research actively conducted at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Danielle has consulted as a science education evaluator for Birch Aquarium at Scripps and San Diego State University’s Teacher Education Department. Danielle evaluated and assessed education programs to document their educational impact for grant program funders. At San Diego State University, she supervised and mentored student teachers earning their single subject science credential.
Founding San Diego Youth Science (SDYS) in 2015, Danielle serves as Executive Director consulting to enhance the science at elementary schools within the Mission Bay Cluster and beyond. Having worked in both science research and resource management, Danielle is passionate about designing science programming that incorporates local research and current phenomena to engage students and their classroom teachers in the authentic process of science. Through multi year collaborations with partner schools, Danielle truly values her opportunity to do science with these students and teachers.
San Diego Youth Science is determined to empower San Diego’s students and teachers to examine and question the natural world around them. San Diego Youth Science works with students of all ages to understand the process of science, view the world with scientific curiosity, and have a lifelong love of science through participation in authentic and relevant science experiences.
Science Educator: Heather Eaton
Growing up in San Diego, Ms. Eaton found her way into science organically having a high school science teacher for a mother and a commercial fisherman for a father. She was exposed to science from an early age and knew she wanted to pursue a career in science. Ms. Eaton earned her BS in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability from Colorado State University in 2020, and was privileged to get to also study at the School for Field Studies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. During this time she conducted fieldwork collecting data on marine megafauna, as well as finding time to share her passion for the environment with youth through organizing beach cleanups and snorkeling excursions.
Ms. Eaton continues to pursue her affinity for the natural world and can often be found on the ocean fishing, sailing, or surfing. She is enthusiastic to share her passion for science and the environment through hands-on learning with students. Ms. Eaton is thrilled to be an integral part of San Diego Youth Science and work with the students and teachers within the Pacific Beach community.
Science Educator: Claire Gorsuch
Coming from a family of teachers and having a passion for chemistry and experimentation, Claire Gorsuch had her eyes set on teaching science from an early age. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where she focused her education by choosing minors in Exercise and Health Science and Science and Mathematics Education to accompany her Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry. After graduating in 2012, Mrs. “G” as students call her joined Teach for America and began her teaching career in Nevada. During this time she also earned her Master's Degree in Education while teaching high school Physics and Chemistry as well as their honors adaptations.
In 2017 when Mrs. G. and her family welcomed twins, she found a passion for early childhood education. While raising her children she found a passion for teaching young children about the world around them and nurturing their natural curiosity. After moving to Southern California in 2021, Mrs. G. prepared to reenter the classroom by obtaining her Single-Subject Science Teaching Credential for California with the dream of teaching science to elementary aged children. She found that dream in 2022 when she joined San Diego Youth Science.
Once a San Diego Youth Science Educator, always.....
much appreciation to Stacy Circuit, Hannah Tandy, and Mychang Krotosky!
