Meet the Educators
Betsy Marsh
Inspiring others to value and care for our natural world is Betsy’s life-long mission. As an environmental educator and conservationist for over 20 years, Betsy has enjoyed creating meaningful, engaging learning experiences for diverse groups of all ages. Since 2020, she has led TRWD’s youth conservation program and partnered with Tarrant County schools, cities, businesses, and community groups to design innovative educational programs and outdoor spaces. Betsy completed her B.A. in Geography at the University of Texas at Austin and her M.S. in Resource Policy and Behavior at the University of Michigan. After teaching elementary and secondary school in Honduras, she coordinated outreach programs and developed educational content for diverse environmental policy organizations. Most recently, she worked for the City of Grapevine creating experiential, youth education programs and partnering with schools to enhance outdoor learning areas. In her spare time, she loves gardening with native plants and enjoying nature with her family and friends.
Melissa Malone
With 15+ years of teaching experience and 10 years in the conservation education field, Melissa’s passion for teaching and the environment has been a thread throughout her professional and personal life. After completing her B.A. in Biology from the University of Dallas, she worked as an Educator at the Dallas Zoo and Aquarium, and later as Senior Education Manager at the Trinity River Audubon Center. Since then, she has worked in preschools, elementary schools, and nature centers, helping with recycling programs, school gardens, and wildlife restoration projects. Outside of teaching, Melissa is most at home while cooking, entertaining, hiking, birding, and gardening. She is always looking for something new to learn about the environment and is thrilled to share her knowledge with our community.
Vanessa Navarro
From an early age, Vanessa felt a passion for exploring and conserving the natural environment. While growing up in Fort Worth, she enjoyed TRWD’s recreational spaces like Twin Points Park and the Trinity Trails. Vanessa completed a B.S. in Environmental Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She has spent the last five years teaching K-12 students in classrooms, natural areas, and summer camps at nature preserves, zoos, and aquariums in Texas and Georgia. She is passionate about inspiring our community and especially our youth to appreciate nature and its resources. When she’s not teaching, Vanessa enjoys exercising outside and visiting state parks.
