Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is proud to announce that Liz Roxberry, Program Director of the Hartley Outdoor Education Center, has been accepted into the 2025 cohort of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Institute for Leaders.
The Institute for Leaders is a regional leadership development program that brings together professionals from across Bay, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw Counties to build collaborative solutions and strengthen regional progress through informed, engaged leadership. Through eight in-depth sessions held from April through November, participants explore a range of topics, including economic sustainability, social issues, and governance, through interactive discussions, expert presentations, and immersive learning experiences.
“As someone deeply committed to experiential education and regional partnerships, I am incredibly honored to join this year’s Institute for Leaders cohort,” said Liz Roxberry. “This opportunity will allow me to grow as a leader while also contributing to meaningful collaboration that benefits not only our students at Hartley, but the broader communities we serve throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.”
Ms. Roxberry joins a network of over 500 graduates who serve as ambassadors for regionalism and innovation, building stronger bridges between sectors, communities, and opportunities.
“Liz exemplifies the kind of visionary, community-minded leadership that Saginaw ISD values and cultivates,” said Dr. Jeffrey Collier, Saginaw ISD Superintendent. “Her participation in the Institute for Leaders reflects both her personal commitment to service and our organization’s belief in the power of informed leadership to positively impact students and families in Saginaw County, throughout our region, and the state.”
Hartley Outdoor Education Center, operated by Saginaw ISD, provides nature-based programming for thousands of students annually and continues to serve as a vital hub for environmental education and leadership development throughout Michigan.
ABOUT ELIZABETH (LIZ) ROXBERRY
Elizabeth (Liz) Roxberry serves as the Program Director of Hartley Outdoor Education Center, bringing over two decades of expertise in outdoor education, nonprofit management, and conservation leadership. Passionate about connecting people to nature, Liz is dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship through innovative programs, sustainable practices, and community engagement.
A graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Liz also holds certifications in conservation education and outdoor programming, including Project WILD, Project WET, and the National Archery in the Schools Program. She has revitalized facilities and programs throughout her career, including transforming the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center into a thriving educational hub and leading the remarkable turnaround of Fenner Nature Center, where she implemented rebranding, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable funding models to double its capacity.
Liz also established the Reggio Emilia-inspired Fenner Nature Preschool, offering place-based education to early learners in Lansing. Her advocacy efforts contributed to the passage of Michigan’s House Bill 4371, which encouraged youth participation in outdoor heritage activities, and she received congressional recognition for green infrastructure innovation at Fenner Nature Center.
Most recently, as Executive Director of Friends of the Shiawassee River, Liz led community events, educational initiatives, and outreach efforts to enhance public engagement with natural resources. When she’s not working, Liz enjoys outdoor adventures, exploring new places, and sharing her love for nature with her family and friends.
ABOUT HARTLEY OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER
Established by the Saginaw Intermediate School District in 1975, Hartley Outdoor Education Center provides students with experiential learning opportunities and unforgettable moments while exploring nature, wildlife, natural resources, history, and cultures through virtual or in-person interactive learning. Hartley offers a variety of STEM classes in categories such as earth science, life science, and physical science.
Nestled in 311 acres of natural habitat, including hardwood forests, wetlands, meadows, ponds, and a creek, Hartley is home to Coal Mine No. 8, a historical site and museum, Schroeder Log Cabin, Fowler School, Murphy Farm, Henige Log Cabin.
ABOUT SAGINAW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is an educational service agency that provides effective and innovative leadership, services, resources, and programs throughout Saginaw County. Saginaw ISD provides career and technical education, early childhood, finance, human resources, instruction, pupil accounting, special education, technology, and transportation services. In addition, Saginaw ISD operates multiple educational programs to meet the unique needs of students ages birth to 26 across Saginaw County, including: Hartley Outdoor Education Center, Head Start/Early Head Start and Great Start to Readiness Programs, Great Lakes Bay Early College, Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center School, and Special Education Center Programs.
Saginaw ISD serves 12 local school districts, five public school academies, and 22 non-public schools, with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students. Public school districts supported include: Birch Run Area Schools, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, Carrollton Public Schools, Chesaning Union Schools, Frankenmuth School District, Freeland Community School District, Hemlock Public School District, Merrill Community Schools, Saginaw Public School District, Saginaw Township Community Schools, St. Charles Community Schools, and Swan Valley School District.
MEDIA CONTACT
For further inquiries, you may contact Chief of Staff Coty Kuschinsky at ckuschinsky@sisd.cc