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CAELI District Innovation Hub

“Student Advocacy and District Action: Fremont’s Emerging Educational Response to the Climate Emergency”

April 20, 2023

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Agenda

4:00 - 4:10 Welcome and Connections

4:10 - 4:50 Fremont Unified School District

4:50 - 5:00 Q&A - Jamboard and Discussion

5:00 - 5:05 Closing, Feedback, and Resources

5:05 - 5:30 Breakout Room Discussions

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Welcome & Connections

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Map Padlet

Click the + sign to add your name, location and links.

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Connections

  • Breakout Rooms (5 minutes)

  • What is your name, organization, and role?

  • Where are you located?

  • What are you doing to support climate education?

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Innovation Hubs

  • Community-Based Partners
  • County Offices of Education
  • Districts
  • Equity
  • Green Career Education
  • Policy and Advocacy
  • Professional Learning

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District Innovation Hub

GOALS

  1. Build a community of district practitioners and partners.
  2. Create, curate and share environmental literacy and sustainability resources.
  3. Build capacity for district planning for environmental literacy and sustainability.
  4. Cultivate, support, and showcase leading edge exemplars.
  5. Research, design, and deliver the best green district support strategies.

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Systems Approaches

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Q&A Jamboard

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Fremont Unified School District

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Nate Ivy

Instructional Coach

Fremont Unified School District

nivy@fusd.k12.net

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Agenda at a Glance

01

03

02

04

Brief history of EE in California and FUSD

Context

FUSD’s Climate Literacy and Environmental Education Network (CLEEN)

District Action

Climate literacy resolutions in FUSD and beyond

Student Advocacy

  • Student Advocacy
  • District Action

Discussion Groups

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Fremont Unified �School District

33,000+ students

TK-12

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2021

2019

2016

2015

2011

2004

2003

2002

2001

1976

1972

California Schools required to accurately represent “Humanity’s place in ecological systems and the necessity for the protection of our environment.”

Education and the Environment: Strategic Initiatives for Enhancing Education in California

EE Timeline in CA and FUSD

UN Conference on the Human Environment calls for environmental education to address global environmental problems.

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PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

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2021

2019

2016

2015

2011

2004

2003

2002

2001

1976

1972

California Schools required to accurately represent “Humanity’s place in ecological systems and the necessity for the protection of our environment.”

Education and the Environment: Strategic Initiatives for Enhancing Education in California

EE Timeline in CA and FUSD

UN Conference on the Human Environment calls for environmental education to address global environmental problems.

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  • Blacow Elementary
  • Cabrillo Elementary
  • Forest Park Elementary
  • Hirsch Elementary
  • Warm Springs Elementary

Eliminate Spork Packets

Pilot Test Reusables

Food Scrap Diversion

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FLEET ELECTRIFICATION

  • 11/20 large buses are 100% electric. 3 more are on order.
  • Planning for electric trucks, small engine tools, etc.

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SOLAR IS COMING

  • Board signed solar agreement 12/14/22
  • Will cover ~72% of usage
  • Includes battery storage for peak mitigation

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2021

2019

2016

2015

2011

2004

2003

2002

2001

1976

1972

California Schools required to accurately represent “Humanity’s place in ecological systems and the necessity for the protection of our environment.”

Education and the Environment: Strategic Initiatives for Enhancing Education in California

EE Timeline in CA and FUSD

UN Conference on the Human Environment calls for environmental education to address global environmental problems.

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Advocacy

02

Climate literacy resolutions in FUSD and beyond

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Shreya Ramachandran

Stanford Student & Founder of The Grey Water Project

FUSD Alumna

rshreya@stanford.edu

Rishi Gurjar

Student & Founder of Beyond Terra

FUSD Senior

rishigurjar2000@gmail.com

Sarah Ranney

Chair, Climate Literacy Committee

Sierra Club, SF Bay Area

CA4climateliteracy@gmail.com

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Reach out to existing Environmental groups in Fremont (FIERCE, High School Clubs)

01

Team Formation

Include Fremont-specific context + expand on existing work

02

Draft Language

Talk to teachers and educators and learn to what is currently being taught

03

Climate Literacy Currently

Collect letters of support from local + environmental organizations & the teachers’ union

04

Support from the Community

Host prep session to mobilize people to speak in support of the CL Resolution at the School Board.

05

Prepare for Public Comment

FUSD Resolution and Campaign

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it is time to define what it means to educate students for a future with human - induced climate change”

[FUSD] “commits to graduating students who are well versed in climate change and climate solutions”

create an implementation plan, the goal of which is to detail the progressive development of the climate literacy program by grade level, and assess its results; ”

Shout out to the Sierra Club and current and former FUSD students:

  • Shreya Ramachandran
  • Sriya Bairy
  • Srilakshmi Varma
  • Rishi Gurjar

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Brief History of Climate Literacy Committee

Founded in 2016 to bring to life the 5 principles of Climate Literacy as defined by the Sierra Club CA:

  1. The causes of climate change;
  2. Its potential for harm;
  3. What is required to avoid significant climate destabilization;
  4. Actions needed to ensure a livable future; and
  5. The key people and institutions involved in those actions.

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Brief History of Climate Literacy Efforts in California

We take a School District approach to pass comprehensive commitments to climate change curriculum.

Resolutions have passed in:

  • Oakland OUSD - 2019
  • Fremont FUSD - 2021
  • Berkeley BUSD - 2021
  • Los Angeles USD - 2022

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Why Focus on Climate Literacy?

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It’s not consistently taught.

Although most states have classroom standards that at least mention human-caused climate change, most teachers aren't actually talking about climate change in their classrooms.

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It changes behavior.

~20% reduction

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It impacts mental health and civic trust

A 2021 Global Survey of youth found

More than 45% of respondents said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and many reported a high number of negative thoughts about climate change (eg, 75% said that they think the future is frightening and 83% said that they think people have failed to take care of the planet).

Climate anxiety and distress were correlated with perceived inadequate government response and associated feelings of betrayal.

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Today’s youth are tomorrow’s voters, workers, and leaders

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Guiding Principles for a District Approach

  • Let students lead. Student engagement and momentum has been critical to all of our successes
  • Build a broad coalition - Change should happen WITH the district, not TO it
  • Find out what good work is already happening, and connect to it
  • Support teachers - that means, pay them!
  • Stay student-centered, multidisciplinary, age appropriate, and solutions-focused

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Actions

03

FUSD’s Climate Literacy and Environmental Education Network (CLEEN)

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FUSD CLEEN COMMITTEE

Who

3 K-5 teachers

3 6-8 teachers

3 9-12 teachers

5 students

District & Community Partners

What

Create a vision for Climate Literacy and Environmental Education

Outline a draft implementation plan

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CLEEN 1.0

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Values

  • Action Oriented
  • Equitable
  • Integrated
  • Age-appropriate
  • Culturally-proficient

CLEEN 1.0

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CLEEN VISION

Adopted 2/22/22

We envision a future where:

Environmental leadership and action is a shared responsibility within FUSD and the district is known for holding environmental sustainability as a core value.

All FUSD students and staff attend well-maintained campuses that minimize climate impacts and foster deep connections with the natural environment.

Equity-focused partnerships help FUSD implement and maintain high-quality sustainability initiatives and educational programs.

Age-appropriate and culturally proficient TK-12 climate literacy and environmental education in the sciences and humanities inform, educate, and empower all FUSD students to be civically-engaged action-oriented environmental problem solvers.

FUSD students, staff, and school sites are celebrated for their green achievements while best practices are regularly shared across the district.

CLEEN 1.0

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Directors+, principals, teacher leaders, student leaders

Provide Leadership & Support

  • Grants/funding
  • Admin training
  • Campaigns
  • Agreements

Recycling coordinator, buildings and grounds, parents, teachers, principals, student leaders

Practice Stewardship & Connect to Nature

  • Sustainability training
  • Outdoor education
  • Recycling systems
  • Gardens & Grounds

Non-profits, government agencies, businesses, parents, teachers, administrators.

Build Relationships

  • Grade-level mapping
  • Equitable distribution
  • Internal/external networks

Program managers, instructional coaches, teachers, student leaders, principals

Empower Students

  • Scope/sequence
  • Curriculum
  • Action projects
  • Teacher training
  • Student clubs

Public Information Officer, principals, teachers, students, parents, government agencies,

Share the Story

  • Newsletter/website
  • Awards
  • Social media
  • Signage on campuses

CLEEN 1.0

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CLEEN 1.0 Progress Report

  • Environmentally themed summer school
  • Inventory of FUSD’s environmental initiatives
  • Monthly FUSD K-12 school garden series
  • Monthly FUSD climate literacy and environmental education PD series
  • CLEEN 2.0 launched January 2023

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CLEEN 1.0

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CLEEN 2.0 Roster

Ali Vaz

3-H

Denise Kuo

5-H

Mari Moschetti

12-H

Allyson McAuley

11/12-H

Elisabeth Eklou- Boccovi

1-S

Mary Verghese

11-S

Aman Multani

K

Elisabeth Huffmaster

3-S

Megan Savage

TK-S

Annie Bui (WHS)

11

Hannah Moreno

2-H

Nadeen Shamoun (IHS)

10

Ashley Trahan

7/8-S

Katherine Do

10-H

Nathan Cleckley

7/8-H

Becky Oliphant

9-S

Kyle Thompson

10-S

Prema Radhakrishna

6-H

Carl Bullard

9-H

Lalitha Srinivasan

4-S

Rachel Piper-Frisina

2-S

Catherine Strohecker

6-S

Lisa-Marie Burns

12-S

Rishi Gurjar (AHS)

12

Chikako Takeuchi

TK-H

Lisa Garcia

1-H

Stephanie Keller

4-H

Dalia Jazrawi (MSJHS)

11

Mak Santos (KHS)

12

Teresa Friedheim

5-S

STEM

HUMANITIES

STUDENTS

CLEEN 2.0

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it is time to define what it means to educate students for a future with human - induced climate change”

[FUSD] “commits to graduating students who are well versed in climate change and climate solutions”

create an implementation plan, the goal of which is to detail the progressive development of the climate literacy program by grade level, and assess its results; ”

Shout out to the Sierra Club and current and former FUSD students:

  • Shreya Ramachandran
  • Sriya Bairy
  • Srilakshmi Varma
  • Rishi Gurjar

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FUSD DRAFT Climate Literacy Definition

A climate-literate person is able to:

  • understand the essential principles of Earth’s climate system
  • access and apply scientifically credible climate information
  • navigate the social and emotional challenges associated with climate change
  • communicate about climate and climate change in a meaningful way
  • take actions that reduce the potential for harm related to climate change

CLEEN 2.0

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Capacities

  • Physical Development
  • Social & Emotional Development
  • Academic & Cognitive Development
  • Independence / Responsibilities

Standards & Curriculum

  • Key learning experiences in STEM
  • Key learning experiences in Humanities

Environmental Social/Emotional Considerations

  • Environmental joys/excitements
  • Environmental concerns/worries

Community resources

  • Community partners
  • Field trip opportunities
  • Push-in classroom experiences

Opportunities to Connect to Nature

Environmental Responsibilities

Action Project Ideas

Grade Level Theme

Climate/Environmental Learning Goal: By the end of the year, a climate literate x grader…

CLEEN 2.0

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AGE APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

CLEEN 2.0

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Grade Level Theme

Action�Projects

Environmental Responsibilities

Social & Emotional Considerations

Existing curriculum

Connecting to Nature

CLEEN 2.0

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Q&A Jamboard

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Closing, Feedback, and Resources

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Meeting Feedback & Suggestions Link:

https://forms.gle/9vvi9FMDM9JzSbhh6

Contact:

Amy Frame

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Ten Strands

aframe@tenstrands.org

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Please complete and share!

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Community-Based Partners, please sign up to be included on the site.

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District Innovation Webinar Series

Spring 2023

→ Join us from 4:00 - 5:30 pm on the third Thursday of each month.

Jan 19 - “Our Journey to Becoming a Green Ribbon School District”

Featuring: Rialto Unified School District

Feb 16 - “Shared Leadership for Green Schools: A Systems Approach to Environmental

Literacy Planning” Featuring: Encinitas Union Elementary School District

March 16 - “Green Giants: Schoolyards, Gardens, Forests, and the Champions Who Support Them”

Featuring: Val Verde Unified School District

April 20 - “Student Advocacy and District Action: Fremont’s Emerging Educational Response to the

Climate Emergency” Featuring: Fremont Unified School District

May 18 - “Connecting Student Learning to Campus Sustainability: Energy Projects for Career

Readiness” Featuring: Porterville Unified School District

June 15 - “A Superintendent’s Perspective: Leading for Lasting Change”

Featuring: Cabrillo Unified School District

Find recordings and resources from each meeting here.

Register here.

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Breakout Rooms

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Breakout Rooms

  1. Student Leadership - Shreya Ramachandran & Sarah Ranney
  2. District Planning - Nate Ivy & Rishi Gurjar
  3. Other ideas?

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Breakout Room Discussion Questions