Pacific Education Institute

What Pacific Education Institute does

Pacific Education Institute (PEI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 and headquartered in Olympia, Washington, that provides K-12 professional development and curriculum frameworks for place-based, outdoor STEM education throughout Washington State. Its core offering is the FieldSTEM® model — a registered, proprietary teaching-and-learning framework that integrates STEM with language arts, social studies, and art, designed to help educators implement locally relevant, career-connected environmental and conservation education projects. The portfolio of programs built on this model includes Dual Language Education (Spanish-language workshops), ClimeTime (climate science teacher training as OSPI statewide lead), Green Job Pathways and the YESS summer program (career-connected learning in natural resources), Project WET/WILD/Learning Tree coordination, Explore the Salish Sea curriculum, and the FieldDesign engineering framework, plus a searchable online Resource Directory of free curriculum materials.

PEI delivers its services primarily through Regional FieldSTEM Coordinators embedded across the state and via customizable professional learning workshops (in-person and asynchronous), priced low (e.g., $65 for asynchronous courses) and subsidized through donor support. Revenue mechanics are nonprofit-style: grant funding from OSPI ($50K+) and Washington Employment Security Department ($50K+), foundation grants ($20K-$49K tier from Dawkins, Hancock, Russell Family), corporate sponsorships (Weyerhaeuser, Rayonier, KeyBank Foundation), individual donations (tax-deductible 501(c)(3) contributions), and modest program/workshop fees. The organization is governed by an independent board and has no parent company.

The customer base is hybrid: end beneficiaries are K-12 educators and students across Washington State school districts (named customers include Spokane, Tumwater, Pasco, Riverview, Yakima, Cle-Elum Roslyn, Cape Flattery, Quillayute Valley), while primary revenue counterparties are state agencies, federal grant programs (USDA USFS), and foundations. PEI maintains deep institutional roots, having been founded by a consortium of Washington education and natural resource leaders (WFPA, WDFW, OSPI, AWSP, WASA, WSSDA), and operates with a small staff of approximately 8 employees managing a $1 million annual budget.

Name

Pacific Education Institute

Legal name

Pacific Education Institute

Website

https://pacificeducationinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Education Institute is a Washington-State 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides K-12 educators with professional development, curriculum, and a proprietary FieldSTEM® framework for place-based, outdoor, career-connected STEM education throughout Washington State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Outdoor STEM Professional Development and Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual School Course Providers (Single-Course/Part-Time Enrollment) (EDAJADAE)

Keywords

• Outdoor STEM education
• K-12 professional development
• Environmental education programs
• Teacher training workshops
• Place-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Workshops: PEI offers workshops for educators to earn continuing education clock hours for certificate renewal. As a Washington-State-approved clock hour provider, workshops meet standards of professional learning adopted by the Washington Legislature.
2. Grants and Funders: PEI receives funding from organizations including OSPI, Washington Employment Security Department, and various foundations at different contribution levels ($50,000+, $20,000-$49,000, $10,000-$19,999, $5,000-$9,999, $2,000-$4,999, $1,000-$1,999).
3. Corporate Sponsorship: PEI offers sponsorship opportunities for companies to support the FieldSTEM Model and gain brand awareness while supporting STEM education and career-connected learning.
4. Donations: PEI accepts tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 75-3108166). The organization provides donation options ranging from $20 to $500 or custom amounts, with options for one-time or recurring donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pacific Education Institute is a nonprofit educational organization that delivers the FieldSTEM® teaching and learning model — a proprietary, place-based framework that helps K-12 educators implement outdoor STEM, climate, and natural resource education projects integrated with language arts, social studies, and art. Its core deliverables are standards-aligned curriculum, professional development workshops (approved for Washington State clock hours), regional coordinator support, and coordinated national programs (Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Project WILD) sold and delivered to schools, districts, and educators across Washington State.

Product overview

Pacific Education Institute (PEI) offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs centered around its FieldSTEM® teaching and learning model—a framework for place-based, integrated, career-connected outdoor STEM education for K-12 students in Washington State. The portfolio includes specialized programs such as the Dual Language Education Program (providing Spanish-language resources), ClimeTime (climate science professional development), Green Job Pathways (career-connected CTE frameworks and the YESS summer program), and coordination of national programs including Project WET/WILD and Project Learning Tree. Additional offerings include the Explore the Salish Sea curriculum, FieldDesign engineering modules, and a searchable Resource Directory. Services are delivered through Regional FieldSTEM Coordinators and customized Professional Learning Opportunities for educators. PEI serves as a Washington-State-approved clock hour provider for teacher continuing education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FieldSTEM: The teaching and learning model designed to help classroom educators implement natural resource and conservation education projects in communities across Washington.

Products and services

• FieldSTEM® Model PEI's primary teaching and learning framework designed to help K-12 educators implement equitable environmental and sustainability education through place-based outdoor learning, integrating STEM with language arts, social studies, and art. It is intended for use by classroom teachers, schools, and districts in Washington State.
• Dual Language Education Program FieldSTEM model adapted for dual language schools, providing bilingual workshops in Spanish and translating/developing resources to support multicultural youth in locally based outdoor learning.
• ClimeTime Climate science professional development initiative funded by OSPI, connecting Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with climate science education through Solutions Oriented Learning Storylines for K-12 educators statewide.
• Green Job Pathways Career-connected learning initiative preparing students for natural resource careers through CTE frameworks, the Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) summer program, and workforce development partnerships.
• Project WET / Project WILD (Washington Sponsorship) National environmental education programs coordinated by PEI in Western Washington, providing activity guides for K-12 students investigating environmental concepts, wildlife, habitat, and water education.
• Project Learning Tree (Washington) Award-winning environmental education program coordinated by PEI as Washington State sponsor, offering professional development and instructional materials for educators working with youth from early childhood through grade 12.
• Explore the Salish Sea NGSS-aligned, place- and project-based science curriculum for grade 5 covering ocean science, stormwater, rocks, tides, migration, and Salish Sea ecosystems.
• FieldDesign Field-based engineering and design framework for K-12 students rooted in real-world challenges, aligned with NGSS and Common Core standards.
• Professional Learning Opportunities Customizable professional development workshops for K-12 educators covering high-impact field experiences, field investigations, performance tasks, outdoor observation skills, and career-connected learning, eligible for Washington State clock hours.
• Resource Directory Online searchable directory providing free teaching materials including ELA and Math Performance Tasks, FieldSTEM guides, Schoolyard Investigations, Solutions Oriented Learning Storylines, Career Cards, and CTE Frameworks, searchable by resource type, standards, topics, and grade bands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased student focus and attention - students with short attention spans able to understand complex concepts like photosynthesis through hands-on outdoor learning
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Spokane (Urban Forestry)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with City of Spokane Urban Forestry on USDA USFS Urban Forestry grant to expand tree canopy to 30% coverage city-wide by 2030, integrating urban forestry into place-based learning for Spokane Public Schools students.
• Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain community partner for PEI's YESS program in Yakima. Coordinates efforts to protect and restore wild fish populations and habitat, provides work sites for student internships and has been a strong partner from the beginning of the YESS program.
• Educational Service District 105coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for GIS CTE course framework development workshop in Yakima. Collaborates with PEI's Green Jobs program to support career pathways in agriculture and natural resources sector and CTE programs within the region.
• Yakama Nation FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for YV-TECH Skills Center, Toppenish School District, and Yakama Nation Tribal School YESS programs. Students participate in Coho salmon tagging and releases at the Mel Sampson Coho Facility.
• Washington Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of PEI (2003) and ongoing partner. WA DNR Youth Education & Outreach Program Manager Clare Sobetski serves on PEI's Board. DNR funds workshops and collaborates on YESS program and forest education.
• Washington Forest Protection AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of PEI (2003). Current partner at $10,000-$19,999 level. WFPA Executive Director Mark Doumit played central role in PEI's founding and championed forests and education.
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of PEI (2003) and current funder at $50,000+ level. OSPI oversees ClimeTime initiative with PEI as statewide lead and manages environmental literacy grants that PEI supports.
• ClimeTime (OSPI/UW Institute for Science + Math Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEI is one of nine community-based organizations funded by ClimeTime initiative. PEI leads programs for science teacher training linking NGSS and climate science, develops instructional materials, and facilitates student events.
• Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of PEI (2003). AWSP Executive Director Scott Seaman, PhD serves on PEI's Board. Association sponsors FieldSTEM Celebration event.
• Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of PEI (2003) working to achieve systemic change in Washington State education through field-based STEM learning.
• Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of PEI (2003). WSSDA Executive Director Tim Garchow and Tricia Lubach serve on PEI's Board.
• Sustainable Forestry InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFI sponsors Project Learning Tree nationally. PEI serves as Washington State coordinator for PLT, which uses trees and forests as windows on the world for environmental education.
• Association of Fish and Wildlife AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sponsor of Project WILD. PEI serves as Western Washington sponsoring agency for Project WILD environmental education program.
• Project WET FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEI serves as Project WET's Western Washington sponsoring agency, advancing water education through hands-on, science-based resources for educators.
• SeaDoc SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal developer of Explore the Salish Sea Curriculum which PEI now hosts as part of its FieldSTEM learning model.
• Various Tribal NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEI collaborates with educators at Tribal schools to develop and embed Indigenous values and traditions in natural resource management education, including Yakama Nation DNR and Tribal Schools.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Project WILD (Council for Environmental Education): National wildlife-focused environmental education program with regional coordinating structure nearly identical to PEI's role in Western Washington. Direct programmatic overlap in K-12 educator training.
• EarthGen (formerly Seattle Audubon / EarthLab): Washington State nonprofit providing K-12 teachers with training and grants for climate and environmental education; competes with PEI for the same ESD and district-level contracts in Washington.
• E3 Washington (Environmental Education Association of Washington): Statewide association that has recognized PEI with its nonprofit excellence award; serves overlapping environmental educator network and advances environmental literacy policy in Washington.
• NatureBridge: National outdoor science education nonprofit delivering residential and field-based programs; intersects PEI on place-based, NGSS-aligned K-12 environmental learning, especially in the Pacific Northwest.
• Project WET Foundation: Water-focused environmental education network that PEI sponsors for Western Washington. Comparable K-12 curriculum distribution model and educator training content.
• Project Learning Tree (American Forest Foundation): National environmental education program that PEI coordinates in Washington State. Same curriculum framework, overlapping educator audience, and formal sponsor-coordinator relationship make this the closest structural peer.

Emerging players

• EcoRise: National nonprofit that provides K-12 curriculum, teacher training, and grants for sustainability and climate education; comparable audience and revenue model but broader geographic footprint.
• Ten Strands: California-based nonprofit that builds educator capacity for environmental literacy; competes for philanthropic and state-policy attention alongside PEI in K-12 climate and environmental learning.

Regional players

• North Cascades Institute: Washington-based environmental learning organization that runs Mountain School and educator programs; both operate in same regional ecosystem serving K-12 outdoor STEM learning in Washington.
• EEB Lab / Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education: University-based environmental education center providing K-12 educator professional development in another state; comparable mission, audience, and facilitator-based delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pacificeducationinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-education-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/peiwashington
• Xx.com/PacificEdu23429

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Education Institute