After a five-year stint as director of the Cathance River Education Alliance, Matt Dubel will be departing the organization this month.

CREA’s board of directors announced that Andrea Stevens has been appointed interim executive director.

Dubel has served as CREA’s executive director since October 2013. He has been appointed the executive director of Portland ConnectED, a partnership of organizational leaders committed to building a citywide cradle-to-career infrastructure to support high quality education.

Using the natural resources of the 230-acre Cathance River Preserve in Topsham, CREA promotes ecological awareness and nature-based learn- ing among students, educators and the public; works to foster wise use of the preserve; and aims to prepare future stewards of the Cathance River. Its off-grid ecology center serves as a laboratory for the study of nature and sustainable energy on the preserve.

The CREA board credits Dubel with “substantial” achievements, including a long-term planning initiative that identified the impact CREA could have in the community and the programming that would achieve that impact.

This led to the development or expansion of several areas, notably building deeper partnerships with local schools. In addition to offering classroom programs, CREA staff now work more intensively with local teachers to develop curriculum, provide professional development and coaching, and offer resources to help them teach outside on their school campuses.

CREA also has expanded summer youth programs involving more campers across a broader age range. Its community programming now includes a thematic program series combining outdoor and indoor experiences centered on topics related to nature and the environment.

“Matt has been an extraordinary executive director who has raised CREA’s profile in the community, and particularly in education programs for students and teachers,” said Jan Smith, immediate past board president. “We wish him great success in his new role.”

The search for a new executive director is underway with plans for a new hire to be on staff by Oct. 1. The search committee seeks a creative, passionate and nature-oriented leader to keep CREA in the forefront of exciting and innovative hands-on environmental education.

Other changes in the organization include the election of Ed Lovely as president of the board of directors, as Jan Smith steps down but continues as a director on the board. Ellen Bennett was elected vice president following a term as secretary. Chris Taylor continues as treasurer.