Nils Palsson

Senior Social Sciences, Government, & Economics Mentor

About

I am a lifelong educator with a passion for building community. I am a systems thinker with a holistic perspective, a strong passion for the subjects I teach, real-world experience in the humanities and sciences, a commitment to individualized education, and a great deal of care for the individual learners I serve. I was born in San Francisco, I’ve traveled the world extensively, and I live in Santa Rosa with my daughter, Satya Rose, and my dog, Phoenix.

Roles at Quest Forward Academy

In addition to serving in the classroom as a Senior Mentor and working to support fellow educators as an Academy Mentor Coach, I also work with students to cultivate a thriving campus community. I advise Student Council, Yearbook and Journalism, Drama and Improv, and several other extracurricular activities. I also oversee the Global Learning Program at my Academy and I’ve played a strong role in pioneering our City as Campus program.

Credentials

• BA English, New York University
• BA History, New York University
• Secondary Teacher Preparation Program, Dominican University of California
• MFA in Writing and Consciousness, California Institute of Integral Studies

Before Quest Forward Academy

Before joining the Quest Forward Academy team, I held a number of other educational positions, from teaching history in public high school to teaching integral anatomy to adults at a massage and holistic healing school in San Francisco. I have also served as a local grassroots community organizer, award-winning journalist, communications director for a national sustainability nonprofit, community radio show host, and two-time candidate for the United States House of Representatives.