Hey There
My name is Benji Willett, and I am a passionate educator dedicated to helping students succeed in both their academic studies and their athletic pursuits. I graduated from Pitzer College in 2023 with a degree in Environmental Analysis, earning honors. In my time at Pitzer, I was a varsity diver and team captain, earning numerous accolades over my four years as a student. These included eight NCAA All-Scholar awards, four All-SCIAC awards, Diver of the Year in 2023, and an Honors designation on my senior thesis. I'm excited for the opportunity to help you or your student thrive academically and/or athletically!
All About Me
Following my graduation, I immediately entered the environmental education field, working as an outdoor instructor at Pali Institute in Running Springs, California. This experience provided me with the opportunity to work with students from 5th to 12th grade in an outdoor setting, instructing them in various areas, including forest ecology, dissection, and outdoor education.
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At the same time, I began tutoring remotely for students in California who were seeking help with courses such as AP Environmental Science, AP Language Arts and Composition, and AP Literature. By incorporating my understanding of various teaching methods, I was able to assist students in achieving notable successes, including scoring a five on the AP Environmental Science exam, earning excellent scores on individual exams and assignments, and developing college admission essays.
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Following my time at Pali Institute, I worked as a Head Counselor at Pali Adventures, the summer camp offered by the same company as the Institute. In this role, I was able to build on my pre-existing youth supervision experiences by overseeing all campers 12 and under for nine weeks. This included managing all correspondence between campers and their parents/guardians, and ensuring that each camper felt supported and excited in the camp environment. A significant portion of this work focused on teaching campers essential life skills that could translate to success beyond the camp environment. Additionally, I was responsible for writing correspondence with parents/guardians on behalf of the camp, allowing me to utilize and develop my composition skills, which I had initially honed in college. Through this work, I was able to become a contributing author on a soon-to-be-published research paper and several governmental plans, teaching me numerous lessons. These educational experiences continues to inform my teaching methods to this day.
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My other work experiences have primarily centered on the environmental field, encompassing both science and policy concentrations. I served as an AmeriCorps CivicSpark fellow with the City of Albany, California, from September 2024 to August 2025, assisting the city with environmental regulations and plans that support overall climate adaptation. Additionally, I worked as a research assistant to a PhD student at Stanford, with a specific focus on analyzing scientific data. These positions significantly strengthened my writing composition and reading comprehension skills, providing me with valuable insights into niche forms of writing within scientific and political contexts.
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I currently work as an adventure education leader with The Renaissance School, leading classes on expeditions for a week at a time. These expeditions involve activities such as backpacking, canyoneering, and canoeing, and incorporate lessons about the environment surrounding us, allowing for more in-depth learning. Aside from this, I also work as a diving coach for the City of Longmont and as a substitute teacher.
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My passion in life has become being an educator and helping deliver meaningful assistance to any students, athletes, or student-athletes that may need it. I care about adapting to the specific needs of individual students and tailoring my lesson plans to what is most effective for them.
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I'm excited to meet you and/or your student soon!
