Nikki Pullen captivates high school students’ interest in many ways – including by grossing them out. “When they’re grossed out, they’re engaged,” said Pullen, who teaches sciences at Pioneer Valley Regional School in Northfield. “Worms, slime, goo – that stuff gets their attention.”

No stranger to the delights of being grossed out, Pullen, 35, is a lifelong horror film fanatic who considered becoming a coroner. “But I’m a people person and I love conversations,” said Pullen, “so that wouldn’t have been a great fit.” She majored in biology, earned a teaching degree, and specialized in anatomy and physiology.

As she approaches her tenth year at PVRS, Pullen teaches ecology, anatomy and physiology, two environmental science classes, and fundamental math, as well as coaching soccer and mentoring the Stewardship Club, which among other projects helps maintain trails contained in Pioneer’s considerable woodlands. In the past, she coached softball and basketball, too.

It might seem that Pullen could be mistaken for a whirling dervish as she gives her all to students and colleagues, yet time spent in her presence inspires surprising calm. No doubt, many a PVRS grad will reflect with gratitude as they treasure encounters with this extraordinary mentor; it’s easy to imagine alumni in the distant future fondly invoking Pullen’s name as they recall learning experiences in fields, forests, gardens and compost piles.

While conducting a tour of her classroom and adjoining lab, Pullen offers a steady narrative about grant proposals and project ideas: ”I finally got approval to order pollinator-attracting plants and seeds, topsoil, compost, coco-fiber, landscape fabric, mushroom spawn, and compost worms.” Her efforts have resulted in the installation of solar panels, a small mushroom farm, garden beds, and the establishment of vermicomposting bins.

“I want my students to have the resources to become true ecologists and do field studies,” said Pullen. To that end, she’s exploring the possibility of new rain gardens, pollinator stations, and greenhouse expansions. Goals also include a pavilion that could serve as an accessible outdoor classroom; she dreams of raising chickens and rabbits at the school, as well.

The impetus for starting nature and garden-related programs came “in the midst of the pandemic, when morale was at an all-time low,” said Pullen. “Many students and teachers felt depleted and discouraged. I had an inkling that getting outdoors and working together might lift spirits.” Several faculty members formed a land-use committee. “I wanted to instill hope and explore how to fully utilize the land,” Pullen added. The school sits on 90 acres, the largest land holding of any public school in the Commonwealth. Pullen and a colleague wrote a grant proposal under the category of continuing education and careers, and pulled together some funding.

Years ago, PVRS was known for its agriculture programming; Pullen wants to help bring the school back to its roots. By devoting countless hours to grant writing, brainstorming, and sheer hard work, she’s raised funds leading to a dizzying number of projects.

Though she had long wanted to implement such programs, Pullen figured she would need to proceed incrementally. She had an epiphany, however, following a visit to the school from a restorative justice speaker: “I recognized that spaces here at the school were seriously underutilized,” said Pullen, “so I launched the Stewardship Legacy Project to get things going.” One thing led to another; Pullen’s appetite was whetted.

After some teaching positions were cut, a classroom adjacent to Pullen’s was no longer being used. “A science classroom stood empty, so I asked if I could use it as a lab.” That lab now houses a brook trout aquarium, composting bins, tools and gear. “We work with the cafeteria to rescue food scraps, and when our vermicomposting system yields fantastic soil, we use it in the garden,” she said, pointing through a door to the outside.

Pullen’s high-octane enthusiasm creates doors where once there were only walls – literally and figuratively. “I wanted the students to be able to get outdoors quickly, without having to trek through long hallways in order to get to the space right outside our lab windows.” Pullen requested that a door be installed, but was told it was impossible. “Obviously, it wasn’t impossible,” she said with a smile, leading the way out of the lab into gardening space. “I wrote a grant and got it done. The students’ enthusiasm kept me going. We now have a fully functioning Garden and Farm Lab… with a door.”

Sensitive to the circumstances of her students’ lives, Pullen sees to it that Mondays are especially exploratory. “I factor in what it feels like to return to school after weekend time,” she explained. On a springtime Monday, Pullen and her students could be found having hands-on experiences with fiddleheads, ferns, and skunk cabbage as they hiked to a pond. They spotted an otter, bluejays, and a raccoon and – while making spore prints – identified trees and discussed the importance of addressing invasive species like spurge, burning bush, knotweed, rose of multiflora, bayberry, autumn olive, and bittersweet.

Despite her successes, Pullen is humble. “I’m always learning,” she said. “Honestly, when I started teaching, I didn’t know much about ecology. But I’ve come to absolutely love teaching the subject, as well as environmental science, which is kind of like ecology on steroids, because there’s a bit more math.”

Pullen credits John Lepore, who taught at PVRS for 30 years, with providing tools she needed to teach these subjects. She uses Lepore’s book, “Pioneering Stewardship Plan,” as a textbook. “John’s work is a cornerstone of our studies,” Pullen said.

The respect is mutual: Lepore lauds Pullen’s efforts and accomplishments. “Nikki is an amazing person, and has learned so much, so rapidly,” said Lepore. “She’s an excellent student of the landscape and is great at getting kids outdoors. She helps them understand their roles as stewards, and has done so much in such a short amount of time.”

Lepore recalls how – in his first decade or so at PVRS – he frequently taught outdoors. “Outdoor education has been in my blood for about 50 years,” said the retired teacher turned consultant. “Once standardized testing came on the scene, though, our outdoor options were taken away as everyone scrambled to meet requirements.”

Pullen piggybacks on Lepore’s work with glee, and her enthusiasm began in childhood. She noticed the miraculous qualities of nature when she used to visit her grandparents in western Massachusetts. “I grew up near Trenton, New Jersey,” she said, “which is pretty urban and suburban. Whenever I visited my grandparents, though, I noticed that the air was crisper up here.” Such observations stayed with her into adulthood. “My philosophy is, let’s not just learn science; let’s do science. We do a lot of data collecting, rather than memorizing or regurgitating information.”

As several of Pullen’s environmental science students haul soil from indoor worm bins into outdoor vegetable beds, others inspect butterfly nests or logs that host growing mushrooms. “School gardens are tricky, of course,” said Pullen. “We take summers off, so some of this stuff doesn’t make it. Plus, we don’t have access to water outside,” she said. “That makes it tough. But I have ideas about plans for rain barrels...” Pullen is off and running once again, describing the advantages of rain barrels while simultaneously showing students how to dip plant roots into hormone powder.

Northfield resident Jonathan Bodenstein, who plans to study business in college, said he feels like he’s helping to make an immediate impact through programs Pullen started. “I appreciate all my classes,” he said, “but being outside helps me connect; I feel closest with my peers when we’re outdoors. It feels like we’re a team, working for one cause.”

Cooper Bullock, also of Northfield, helped start the Stewardship Club. He pointed to a large pile of mulch which he obtained by coordinating mulch donations through the town. Another senior, Ryan Wheelock–whose friends call him “the workhorse”–said that the large pile was about five times as large before students started using the mulch for trail maintenance and other projects. “We also added trail markers,” said Wheelock.

Another student, Avery Sargent, said, “Going outside provides learning and connections for classroom work. Everything begins outside, and it’s so much fun. It’s been a great senior year activity, too. I’m always happy to go to Ms. Pullen’s class.”

John Lepore summed up the importance of getting students outdoors: “There’s outdoor learning, and then there’s simply learning while being outdoors, which is great for everyone’s health. I love that Nikki is passionate about creating spaces where kids can approach many disciplines while being outside of the building.” Lepore had the honor of meeting the famed environmentalist and author Rachel Carson when he was just seven years old, and his passion for related topics has never waned.

“People have grown comfortable with the sight of lawns, of uniformity,” Lepore said. “Humans tend to fit nature into our vision and systems. With all due respect, those practices come at the expense of clean water and air, and many other important factors. What Nikki is doing can make a real difference.”

EvelineMacDougall is the author of “Fiery Hope” and an artist, musician, teacher, and homeschooling mom. To contact: eveline@amandlachorus.org.

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