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CLASS Study Hall –
Leveraging Federal Programs to Further Sustainability
Room: 212
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Two of the most commonly referenced challenges for school districts when it comes to progressing sustainability projects and programs are funding and staff capacity. This panel session will underscore existing Federal programs that provide support in these areas, highlight available opportunities for schools to leverage technical assistance to extend their capacity, and showcase creative fund stacking approaches for improving district facilities. Experts from the New Buildings Institute and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab will introduce the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program (EHSP), the Energy CLASS Program, and the other DOE programs offering free support to schools.
Attendees will have the opportunity to consider where they are on the spectrum of sustainability projects and program integration, and how these federal programs can support their efforts. Two school districts will present their recent examples of leveraging Federal programs to expand their capacity by capitalizing on programmatic expertise and technical assistance.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will:
Improved understanding of federal programs for supporting school district sustainability efforts, the resources they provide, and the technical support available to districts.
Take next steps toward creating a personalized action plan for advancing sustainability efforts in their own school district, incorporating insights from the workshop and broader conference.
Analyze fund-stacking approaches and other available resources for improving district facilities and advancing sustainability efforts.
Develop actionable strategies for leveraging federal programs, technical assistance, and funding opportunities to expand their sustainability team’s capacity.
Speakers:
Shannon Oliver, Senior Project Manager, New Buildings Institute
Alison Diaz, Founder & Director of Growth & Sustainability, Environmental Charter Schools
Alison is the Founder of Environmental Charter Schools, and the Executive Director & CEO that has lead a dynamic team to develop award-winning schools. Environmental Charter High School is ranked in the top 3% of U.S. public high schools by U.S. News & World Report, and was chosen as one of three national finalists in President Obama’s Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. ECS was in the first round of schools to be given the Department of Education’s inaugural Green Ribbon Award in environmental and sustainability education and Environmental Charter Middle School – Gardena received the 2015 California Gold Ribbon Schools Award for academic excellence. ECS schools were also named as Top Los Angeles Public Schools for Underserved Students, by Innovate Public Schools. In June 2019, Alison transitioned into the role of Director of Growth and Sustainability. In this role, she focuses on school growth, leading the expansion of high quality charter school seats into which ECS middle schoolers may matriculate through the launch of ECHS Gardena in 2020-2021. She also manages mission-aligned green school facilities development, management and operations, spearheads sustainability initiatives, liaises with national and local green school partners and oversees development, partnerships and advocacy.
Shannon is a key member of NBI’s Leadership and Market Development Program, working with a range of organizations working to decarbonize the built environment. He focuses on supporting school districts across the U.S. to set, plan for action, and achieve climate and carbon reduction goals.
He is a sustainability expert with 20 years of experience and documented success in program development and management covering operational, social, and financial sustainability in large, complex organizations. Shannon has built a strong focus on navigating ambiguous, emerging, and diverse issues touching climate, energy, water, waste, transportation, engagement, and behavior change.
