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Sustainability in Action:
Building a Culture of Climate Resilience in Schools
Room: 207
Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
In this engaging and interactive session, “Sustainability in Action: Building a Culture of Climate Resilience in Schools,” we will share a comprehensive roadmap for integrating sustainability across school operations and educational programming. Designed for school leaders, instructional directors, and district administrative staff, the presentation will explore proven strategies to create a culture of sustainability that aligns with long-term goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Year 1: Facilities and Operations – We’ll dive into practical approaches such as energy master planning, waste diversion strategies, and how aligning facilities management with sustainability goals leads to measurable environmental impacts.
Year 2: Curriculum and Instruction – Learn how sustainability can be seamlessly woven into curriculum and instruction, with a focus on professional development, student advocacy, green teams, and integrating sustainability into assessments and standards.
Year 3: Integration and Collaboration
Learning Objectives:
Participants will:
Develop a Strategic Framework for Sustainability:
Participants will gain the skills to create a comprehensive sustainability roadmap for their school or district, focusing on key areas like carbon emissions reduction, waste diversion, and sustainable facility management.
Integrate Sustainability into Curriculum and Instruction:
Attendees will learn effective strategies for embedding sustainability and environmental literacy into the curriculum, ensuring alignment with state standards, fostering student advocacy, and promoting teacher engagement.
Leverage Data to Drive Climate Literacy and Improvement:
Participants will explore how to use data-driven approaches to assess climate literacy gaps, track sustainability efforts, and measure progress using tools like sustainability dashboards and the Green Ribbon framework.
Foster a Unified Culture of Sustainability and Community Engagement:
Attendees will understand how to bridge operations, instruction, and community collaboration to build a cohesive culture of climate resilience, engaging students, staff, and the broader community in meaningful environmental actions.
Speakers:
Gloria Harwood, Coordinator, Environmental Literacy, Laguna Beach USD
Dr. Chad Mabery, Asst. Superintendent of Instruction, Laguna Beach USD
Gloria Harwood is the Coordinator of Environmental Literacy for Laguna Beach Unified School District and co-chair of the CAELI District Innovation Hub. With a master’s in environmental studies from California State University, Fullerton, Gloria has led projects focused on air quality and access to green spaces. She plays a role in LBUSD’s sustainability task force, guiding instructional efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Gloria directs all Green Teams across the district, providing students and staff with opportunities to engage in sustainability projects. She directs professional learning for educators, integrating environmental literacy into classroom practices, while also fostering community partnerships that connect learning with local environmental actions.
Her work expands to mental health and nature connections, place-based learning, and outdoor education, conducting living schoolyard assessments to create sustainable outdoor spaces. Gloria also leads the district’s Green Ribbon Award application, highlighting LBUSD’s environmental achievements. Through her leadership, she ensures that sustainability and environmental literacy are central to the district’s educational mission
Dr. Chad Mabery is an accomplished educational leader with over two decades of experience in K-12 education. Currently serving as Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services for Laguna Beach Unified School District, Dr. Mabery oversees a wide array of programs, including instructional development, curriculum design, assessments, and career education pathways. He holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership from UCLA and continues to serve as a guest lecturer, mentor, and panelist, sharing his insights into the evolving landscape of education. In addition, Dr. Mabery has presented at numerous national and state conferences, contributing thought leadership on topics such as future-focused education, collective system efficacy, and learner-centered education.
At LBUSD, Dr. Mabery has been a key leader in driving sustainability initiatives, focusing on reducing environmental impact, enhancing health and wellness, and advancing environmental education. The district’s 10-year facilities master plan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 through energy efficiency improvements, solar power expansion, electric vehicle charging, and reducing natural gas usage. The district’s plan also prioritizes embedding environmental literacy across all grade levels, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship aligned with California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts.
