Smirla Ramos Montañez
Vancouver,WA
Summary
Equity-driven leader with over a decade of expertise in early childhood STEM education, and community-driven program development in the Portland Metro area. Skilled in fostering culturally responsive, trauma-informed partnerships with families, educators, and community organizations. Proven ability to center community voice and parent leadership through family advisory boards and the co-design of learning initiatives and programs. Demonstrated success in leading collaborative projects, managing diverse teams, and fostering systemic change within early learning ecosystems. Committed to empowering marginalized communities through strategic program alignment and data-informed decision-making.
.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Community Engagement Coordinator
Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Portland, OR
08.2025 - Current
- Lead equitable engagement strategies for community solar and clean energy access in partnership with CBOs and frontline communities
- Facilitate multilingual outreach, partnership development, and subscriber enrollment for Portland Clean Energy Fund–backed initiatives
- Develop tools and communications that reflect community voice and cultural responsiveness in the energy justice space
- Collaborate with city agencies, nonprofits, and technical providers to align systems change with environmental equity goals
Bilingual Family Engagement Assistant
Springboard Collaborative
Remote, US
02.2025 - Current
- Facilitate weekly virtual family literacy workshops in Spanish, supporting families in building effective at-home learning routines, and strengthening family–school relationships.
- Develop and record high-quality Spanish-language workshop content, and support the translation of family engagement materials to ensure accessibility and cultural relevance.
- Partner with schools and community sites to support team-building huddles, track participation data, and maintain accurate records in internal engagement databases.
- Center family voice by observing workshops, conducting site visits, and focus groups, and providing actionable recommendations to improve family engagement and program design.
Co-Director
Center for Equitable Family STEM Learning at TERC
Cambridge, MA
01.2024 - Current
- Develop and cultivate partnerships with researchers, educators, and community advocates to explore family engagement in STEM outside of school.
- Develop programs and collaboration models to address systemic inequities in STEM education for families.
- Promote family involvement in educational institutions through innovative, community-focused strategies. and participatory methods.
- Lead cross-sector collaboration with early learning programs to co-design STEM resources for families.
- Co-develop strategic engagement plans to deepen partnerships with BIPOC, rural, and multilingual communities.
Family STEM Learning Researcher
TERC
Cambridge, MA
09.2019 - Current
- Lead research and program development focused on early childhood STEM learning and family engagement.
- Design and implement culturally relevant STEM workshops and programs for diverse communities.
- Manage multi-site collaborations with libraries, schools, and community organizations to develop and evaluate family-based learning experiences.
- Oversee grant-funded projects, including budgeting, reporting, and impact assessment.
- Lead team development and mentorship, fostering inclusive and participatory leadership.
Research and Evaluation Strategist
OMSI
Portland, OR
08.2018 - 06.2025
- Led informal science education research and evaluation initiatives with a focus on learning equity and organizational impact.
- Shaped division-wide priorities and contributed to equity strategy across multiple programs.
- Managed proposals, study design, and dissemination activities related to exhibits and community programs.
- Mentored junior staff and supported their professional development in culturally responsive research practices.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Warner Pacific University
Portland, OR
08.2017 - 08.2021
- Designed and taught culturally responsive undergraduate courses in biology, genetics, microbiology, and related disciplines.
- Created inclusive, hands-on learning experiences that fostered critical thinking and scientific inquiry among diverse student populations.
- Developed and implemented assessment tools aligned with varied learning needs to evaluate student understanding and growth.
- Supported first-generation and multilingual students through inclusive teaching practices and individualized academic advising.
- Engaged in service-learning and community partnerships to advance equity and access in STEM education.
Research and Evaluation Associate
OMSI
Portland, Oregon
04.2014 - 08.2018
- Supported the design and implementation of research and evaluation projects focused on informal science learning programs, and public engagement.
- Collected and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., observations, interviews, surveys) to assess learning outcomes and program effectiveness.
- Collaborated with educators, exhibit developers, and program staff to develop evaluation tools and apply findings to program and exhibit improvements.
- Contributed to grant-funded projects through data collection, reporting, and preparation of summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
- Applied culturally responsive and equity-centered evaluation practices to ensure research reflected diverse community perspectives.
Adjunct Professor of Biology
Warner Pacific University
Portland, Oregon
08.2014 - 05.2017
- Designed engaging biology curriculum for diverse student populations.
- Mentored students in research projects and academic pursuits.
- Collaborated with faculty to develop interdisciplinary course materials.
- Implemented innovative teaching methods to improve classroom engagement.
Senior Research Fellow
University Of Washington, Seattle
Seattle, Washington
08.2010 - 06.2014
- Led research initiatives to explore innovative solutions in applied sciences.
- Mentored junior researchers, providing guidance on experimental techniques and methodologies.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop comprehensive project proposals.
- Presented findings at conferences, enhancing visibility of research projects and outcomes.
Education
Ph.D. - Microbiology
Indiana University, Bloomington
Bloomington, IN06-2010
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Inter American University
San German, Puerto Rico05-2003
Skills
- Early Childhood Education & Family Learning
- Culturally Responsive, Trauma-Informed & Equity-Centered Leadership
- Program Development & Strategic Alignment
- Grant, Contract and Fiscal Management
- Research, Data Analysis & Program Evaluation
- Community Partnership Building
- Staff Leadership & Development
- Bilingual (English & Spanish)
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Community Engagement Coordinator
Bonneville Environmental Foundation
08.2025 - Current
Bilingual Family Engagement Assistant
Springboard Collaborative
02.2025 - Current
Co-Director
Center for Equitable Family STEM Learning at TERC
01.2024 - Current
Family STEM Learning Researcher
TERC
09.2019 - Current
Research and Evaluation Strategist
OMSI
08.2018 - 06.2025
Assistant Professor of Biology
Warner Pacific University
08.2017 - 08.2021
Adjunct Professor of Biology
Warner Pacific University
08.2014 - 05.2017
Research and Evaluation Associate
OMSI
04.2014 - 08.2018
Senior Research Fellow
University Of Washington, Seattle
08.2010 - 06.2014
Ph.D. - Microbiology
Indiana University, Bloomington
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Inter American University