
About Me
Kimi Waite's research and professional praxis is situated in the intersections of environmental justice education, geography, critical pedagogy, and social studies. A critical qualitative researcher, and an Asian American educator-activist-scholar with 10 years of teaching experience, she is passionate about inspiring and leading PK-12 students and teachers to take local action for global environmental change. In South Los Angeles Title I public school districts, she was an elementary school teacher and then worked in school district administration in a TK-12 STEM instructional leadership position. In addition, Kimi has taught in South Korea and Guyana and is an experienced facilitator for in-service teacher professional development. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Sustainability Education, and is an instructor for pre-service multiple-subject teacher credential candidates. A lifelong global citizen and former expat, she has been to over 80 countries and all 7 continents.

Awards & Fellowships
Awards:
Mentor Award:
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For outstanding mentorship and dedication to the North American Association for Environmental Education Civics Environmental Education Fellowship
2021 Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Educator of the Year:
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California Council for the Social Studies
2019 Environmental Education 30 Under 30:
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The North American Association for Environmental Education & USDA Forest Service
Fellowships:
Civics Environmental Education Fellow:
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The North American Association for Environmental Education, US EPA & Cedar Tree Foundation
Public Voices Fellow on the Climate Crisis:
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The OpEd Project & the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
Early Career Fellow:
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UCLA Center for Diverse Leadership in Science, Institute of the Environment & Sustainability

Teaching & Research
Teaching Interests:
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Teacher professional development: Critical environmental education & community science
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Environmental justice & climate justice pedagogy
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Educational technology, innovation, & 21st-century learning
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Interdisciplinary elementary education: STEAM & social studies focus
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Partnerships between teachers, students, & STEM professionals to advance environmental civic action
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Critical media literacy
Research Interests:
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Critical qualitative research: Autoethnography & portraiture
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3 article dissertation & public scholarship drive an equity-focused research agenda & dissemination plan
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AsianCrit & Asian American environmental history
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Critical environmental science agency
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Transformative paradigms of community science in teacher education
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Environmental justice & climate justice pedagogy
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Digital professional learning