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Engage Students to Take Action to Conserve Resources, Protect the Environment, and
Prepare for Climate Change
Room: 212
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
The San Mateo County Sustainability Department manages several programs that engage students in and out of the classroom. The overall purpose of these programs is to educate students on environmental topics, so they feel empowered to take action in their communities both now and in the future. These programs include Solutions to Waste Schools Program, Youth Climate Ambassadors Leadership Program (YCA), and Youth Exploring Climate Science Program (YECS).
This session will cover why, how, and ways in which Sustainability Department staff work with students via engaging field trips, hands-on lessons such as interactive games and worm composting, and student-led community impact projects. Speakers will also review the importance of building partnerships with other governmental agencies such as with the San Mateo County Office of Education and other local organizations. Additionally, this session will review the importance of developing school program activities based on the learning theory of social constructivism.
Government agencies, environmental education providers, and classroom teachers will benefit from this discussion to increase student engagement at their schools, in their communities, and beyond.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn how to:
1) Promote environmental education programs within schools and districts.
2) Connect with various community organizations to create meaningful partnerships.
3) Develop interactive activities to engage students to take action.
4) Engage students with their local environment to promote a sense of stewardship and belonging.
5) Advance school sustainability and environmental literacy initiatives by working directly with students and teachers in and out of the classroom.
Speakers:
Gerald Schwartz, Resource Conservation Specialist III, San Mateo County Sustainability Department
Jess Dominick, Sustainability Specialist, San Mateo County Sustainability Department
Julie Hilborn, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Coordinator, San Mateo County Office of Education.
Julie Hilborn is the Coordinator of Environmental Literacy and Sustainability at the San Mateo County Office of Education. She joined SMCOE in September of 2022 after a multi-faceted career in the formal and informal science and environmental education sectors across K-12 and the university levels. She supervises the Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative at SMCOE, which provides support to San Mateo County Schools in prioritizing environmental literacy and integrating environmental sustainability and climate-ready practices across school campuses, curriculum, community, and culture. Julie holds a BA In Human Biology from Stanford, an MA from San Jose State, an administrative credential from SMCOE and a teaching credential from San Francisco State. Her husband Tim is a middle school technology teacher, with whom she shares twin 13 year-old boys. They all enjoy hiking and traveling together in the mountains of California.
Gerald Schwartz has been coordinating the Sustainability Department Solutions to Waste Schools Program for seventeen years. During the 2023 -2024 school year, this program reached out to approximately 6,000 students and teachers via classroom lessons, field trips, assembly presentations, youth leader and teacher training workshops. Gerald has six years of experience working in formal education as a Middle School and High School Science Teacher; and three years of volunteer service in the US Peace Corps working in Nicaragua as an Environmental Educator and Promoter. Gerald earned a B.S. degree in Marine Biology and Zoology, a Masters in Science Education at San Jose State University, and holds a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science. He is also currently working as a part-time lecturer at San Jose State University where he teaches Geology 103, Earth Systems and the Environment, course.
Jess Dominick is a Sustainability Specialist at the San Mateo County Sustainability Department who coordinates youth climate education programming for middle and high schoolers. With a background in environmental education, community engagement, and sustainable design, they work towards cultivating curiosity and passion in the outdoors and in the classroom.