Hosted at UCLA, EcoRise’s Summer Institute prepares teachers and school leaders to embed sustainability and environmental justice in classrooms.
A partnership between the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies and EcoRise, a nonprofit dedicated to preparing teachers and school leaders to incorporate sustainability and environmental justice into K-12 education.
The collaboration is the first time EcoRise has worked with a higher education institute to shape programming for its Teacher Ambassador Program and the growing Green School Administrator Cohort. The partnership began three years ago, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing sustainability and eco-justice and reinforces the critical role of UCLA SEIS in supporting K-12 engagement to bring about research-based teaching and learning and lasting social change.
“Bringing the EcoRise summer program to UCLA felt deeply aligned with who we are as a school,” says Sarah Bang, director of P-12 Public School Partnerships at UCLA Ed&IS. “It is more than just a joint collaboration — it was a powerful reflection of our belief in the critical role institutions of higher education play in supporting K–12 engagement.
“By aligning our missions and resources, SEIS and EcoRise are not only bridging the gap between K–12 and higher ed, but also equipping educators with the tools to engage students in real-world learning rooted in environmental literacy and civic leadership,” says Bang. “Hosting this work at UCLA made perfect sense — it felt like the right place for these urgent conversations, connections, and commitments to take root and grow.”
Wasserman Dean Christina Christie welcomed institute participants to Moore Hall, to the EcoRise Summer Institute, during which took place July 20-23. Activities were aimed at preparing K-12 educators and school leaders to bring environmental education to their schools, through a lens of sustainability and social justice. UCLA Ed&IS, Docusign.org, and Southwest Airlines were co-sponsors of the Summer Institute.
The Summer Institute included activities and sessions intended to help teachers and administrators clearly communicate EcoRise’s mission and vision, with its variety of resources available to K-12 educators; effectively implement these resources in classrooms and school districts to foster eco-literacy and student innovation. The institute also addressed building leadership skills to confidently facilitate teacher workshops and events; and foster local communities of environmental educators and changemakers; responding to the climate challenges faced by students and communities by providing provide opportunities for students to actively engage in climate resilience and environmental justice; and incorporating wellness and comradery into educators’ personal and professional lives.
The Teacher Ambassador program prepares K-12 educators to become environmental education leaders, and provides them with access to a national cohort, place-based climate education, systems thinking, and community-driven design curricula. With these tools, they are able to learn pedagogical and leadership skills to bring climate, sustainability, and environmental justice into their classrooms.
The Green Schools Administrator program was launched in the 2021-2022 school year in Austin, Texas. The program was expanded and brought to the Annual Summer Institute to create a national cohort that promotes systems change around environmental education in K-12. Administrators from across the nation participated in the institute at UCLA. The Green Schools National Network is a partner to this track, providing programmatic support with a school-year plan to enable administrators to embed sustainability education and other green school initiatives into their communities, including climate education and outdoor experiences in academic settings.
A full group session for teachers on “Teaching and Learning with Lands and Waters” was presented by Ananda Marin, associate professor and vice chair of graduate education; and Nicole “Nikki” Barry (McDaid) and Chris Jadallah, assistant professors of education. Their session discussed how the relationships between nature and culture shape everyday thinking, educational practices, and curriculum.
A fourth-year teacher ambassador said of the “Lands and Waters” presentation, “Their lesson on teaching and learning with lands and waters was eye-opening and inspirational.”
“[It] reshaped my perspective on taking students on walks and how to be more attuned with the world around me,” said another fourth-year teacher ambassador.
Jeff Share, senior lecturer in UCLA’s Teacher Education Program, presented his work on fostering critical media literacy in school settings for the administrator track and delineated a variety of content areas to connect students to the natural world with a human-centered approach to climate resilience and eco-justice.
Other activities during the Summer Institute included roundtable discussions for teachers; collaborative planning sessions for administrators; outdoor activities and discussion at Santa Monica Beach; and a reflection circle.
A fourth-year Teacher Ambassador expressed their gratitude for the professional development opportunities and resources that EcoRise provides.
“Being a teacher in the South Bronx, a place that lacks resources and has a high Black and Latinx population, I always teach my students about environmental justice and what they can do to be active problem solvers when it comes to issues in the community,” they said. “The Summer Institute allows us as educators to bolster our teaching skills and provide innovative and interactive curricula that keep our students engaged. Without the ambassador program, my students wouldn’t have been able to know it was possible to make a difference.”
“I’ve had the chance to learn so much, connect with other educators, and come away feeling inspired and ready to make a difference,” said a Green School Administrator who participated in the Summer Institute. “This experience has helped me grow both personally and professionally, giving me new ideas and tools I’m excited to bring back to my school.”
“The EcoRise Summer Institute is the perfect mix of learning, collaboration, inspiration, and connection,” noted a second-year Teacher Ambassador. “Because of this, I am headed back with the tools, knowledge, and enthusiasm to share with other teachers and my students to steward our planet and take care of each other.”
For more information about EcoRise, visit the website.
Above: Ananda Marin, associate professor and vice chair of graduate education (standing, at left); and Nicole “Nikki” Barry (McDaid) and Chris Jadallah, assistant professors of education (standing, L-R) presented a session for teachers on “Teaching and Learning with Lands and Waters,” discussing how relationships between nature and culture shape everyday thinking, educational practices, and curriculum.
Photo by Leigh Leveen