Kate Ireland
Director of Youth Engagement
Washington, DC
Kate Ireland Director of Youth Engagement for The Nature Conservancy © TNC
Areas of Expertise
Youth engagement, education, global education, strategic planning, program design, partnership
Biography
Kate Ireland is a nationally-recognized global education and youth engagement expert, leading successful strategic planning and oversight of high-profile, innovative programs.
As Director of Youth Engagement for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), she leads a team that is elevating the voices of young leaders while bringing diversity, equity and inclusion to the forefront through innovative programs and curricular resources. Under her leadership, millions of people have accessed TNC’s Nature Lab—online resources to bring conservation topics into the classroom. Additionally, she manages a robust partnership with the National Geographic Society to engage emerging leaders in conservation through an innovative externship experience. These programs and more are designed to ensure that young people's diverse voices and views shape the planet's future.
Prior to her role at TNC, Kate spent a decade working for the students of DC Public Schools, most recently as the founding DCPS Global Education Director. She provided oversight, strategic planning and program design across all DCPS global initiatives, which include world language instruction at 115 schools, the nation’s first fully-funded K-12 study abroad program, 8 International Baccalaureate school sites, and three new Global Studies Schools. The groundbreaking work of DCPS Global Education has been recognized by leading education organizations.
Before her work with DCPS, Kate served as the Practicum Director for Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts, connecting students with local and national nonprofit partners, to cultivate real-world skills among students. She has collaborated with organizations that include the Harvard University School of Education, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Aspen Institute, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, and the U.S. Department of Education, as both a panelist and contributor.
Kate holds degrees from the George Washington University and the University of Virginia. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her family..