As part of its commitment to helping schools across New Jersey reach their sustainability goals, the New Jersey School Boards Association is featuring four programs starting next week with a focus on sustainability. All programs are free and open to school board members, administrators, and district staff.
Facebook Live: STEAM Tank Kickoff, Monday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Join the New Jersey School Boards Association and the U.S. Army to kick off the 2021 Virtual STEAM Tank Challenge. In addition to reviewing the program timeline and format, learn about the benefits for students, including design thinking and the engineering design process as a foundation for career-ready practices, while developing creative and innovative real-world problem-solving skills. Also, learn why sustainability, climate change, and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an integral component of the STEAM Tank Challenge.
Facebook Live: Becoming a U.S. DOE Green Ribbon School, Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Learn about the history, application process and three pillars of the federal education department’s Green Ribbon School program, including cost-savings, reduced environmental impact, and increased health and wellness. The session will also include the best practices in teaching sustainability with stories of student leadership.
John Henry, NJSBA’s I-STEAM and Sustainable Schools Specialist will be joined by experts in the field including Allison Mulch, project director for school sustainability with N.J. Audubon and Betsy Freeman, district coordinator of green initiatives and sustainability from the 2020 Green Ribbon School awardee Readington Middle School of Whitehouse Station.
The federal education department’s Green Ribbon School program is New Jersey’s highest-level awards program with recognition at the state and federal levels. The 2021 award cycle is happening now with applications due December 18.
Are You I-STEAM Ready? Design Challenges for a Sustainable Future, Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 4 to 5 p.m.
The New Jersey School Boards Association, in collaboration with the Rutgers University center for mathematics, science, and computer education, is offering a four-part series that focuses on design-based thinking, design challenges, and ways to create a maker mindset within your student population. The program offers one Board Member Academy credit and one I-STEAM Leader credit.
In the second virtual program of the series, experts will demonstrate how design challenges can promote engineering habits of mind, problem-based learning, and contemporary sustainability efforts.
Sustainable Practices: The District’s Role, Thursday, Nov. 19 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
As part of its commitment to helping schools across New Jersey reach their sustainability goals, NJSBA, in collaboration with Sustainable Jersey for Schools, is offering members and school district personnel opportunities to attend a series of virtual sustainable practices sessions. The program offers one Board Member Academy credit and one Green Leader credit.
This session will provide an overview of the district’s role in supporting sustainable practices and the school’s journey toward achieving the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.
The program will also include a review of policies, strategic planning efforts, and leadership strategies to make sustainability part of the district culture.