Hilary Downes-Fortune
my students. It’s the kind of experience you share with the entire school one way
or another.”
Hillary Downes Fortune encompasses a wealth of knowledge regarding the
natural environment. She attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from
University of Rhode Island in 1983, followed by a Master’s Degree in
Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rhode Island College (RIC) in
1993. She returned to school to become a teacher, in 2000. This earned
her an MAT in Elementary Education from RIC. She currently teaches math
and science to the seventh and eighth grade level at The Compass School,
in Kingston, Rhode Island. In addition, she teaches an after school
robotics program. She is in the process of completing the requirements
for certification for middle/highschool mathematics.
Hillary is an innovative educator who has attended numerous workshops
including Oceans al a Carte and various Jason projects at the URI
Graduate School of Oceanography. In the summer of 2007, she participated
in Save the Bay’s Project Narragansett. This was followed by a
half-year study of ecosystems of the bay. Prior to teaching, Hillary
spent thirteen years as a geologist and environmental engineer for GZA
GeoEnvironmental, a geotechnical and environmental consulting firm.
During this time she groomed skills in sampling, geophysical, and
analytical equipment. These experiences enable her to continually design
presentations, workshops, and activities for her students. Hillary is
eager to gain more first hand experiences that she can contribute to the
curriculum of The Compass School.
Aside from Hillary’s professional accomplishments, she is without a
doubt a person of the ocean. She was a crewmember on a sailboat racing
team in Narragansett Bay and has enjoyed numerous sailing trips to
Martha’s Vineyard, Newfoundland, and Grand Manan Island. Hillary
considers herself a seasoned traveler and notes her exciting experiences
shark fishing off the coast of New Zealand.
