Leaders in Environmental Education
Fellowships to develop regional leadership are being offered to increase capacity for effective environmental education in PK-12 schools. Another goal of the fellowship is to foster a collaborative relationship between the Department of Public Instruction and educators in the field, benefiting both through shared learning, advocacy, and leadership opportunities.
Fellowships are awarded through an application process and educators are contracted for a defined amount of time, however, may remain active in the larger network beyond their contract on volunteer basis so long as they are actively working in an educational role within a school district or in a role directly supporting public education outside of a school district. This includes roles such as: teachers, instructional coaches, effectiveness coaches, central office and/or building administrators, and CESA consultants.
This network serves as a inspirational and advisory body, working to use member expertise and efforts to elevate the field of public education for all students, teachers, administrators, families, and communities.
Teach Wisconsin Climate Network Fellowship
The Teach Wisconsin Climate Network Fellowship program is coordinated by the Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education to facilitate high quality professional development to make it easier for Wisconsin educators of all grade levels and subjects to teach about climate change so their students will have access to powerful climate education throughout their lives. Training will be provided by our non-profit partner, SubjectToClimate.
With this fellowship, we aim to provide professional development to increase knowledge about climate change and make educators more confident about carrying out climate change education by creating engaging climate change education lesson plans across all grade levels and subjects.
Teach Wisconsin Climate Network fellows represent six different geographic regions of Wisconsin (covering all CESAs) and are current or former classroom teachers with an expertise and interest in climate education. Fellows engage in a “train-the-trainer” model by becoming experts in the newly created Teach Wisconsin Climate resource hub, well versed in the best practices for climate education, and familiar with a broad array of freely available resources from trusted climate education partners.
Background
We know that in order for climate education to be effectively implemented, teachers need to be supported with adequate resources. And we also know that teachers know best what other teachers need.
The Wisconsin Climate Education Hub was created to provide educators with quick, easy access to high-quality instructional resources to support the state’s requirement for environmental education while advancing the opportunity for educators to incorporate climate change lesson plans into already existing curriculum.
With the official launch of the Wisconsin Climate Education Hub, there is a need for educators to access place-based lessons created by other Wisconsin educators in the “Exemplar Lesson Plan” section. This is a section where educators from Wisconsin can share lessons across all grade levels and subjects that are especially relevant to Wisconsin educators.
We know teachers are leaders for climate education. Teach Wisconsin Climate Network Fellowship will work at the heart of what we do: build exemplary lesson plans by teachers, for teachers.
Teach Wisconsin Climate Network Fellows will:
January - March:
Complete 20 hours of climate education and lesson design training (asynchronous and synchronous)
March - May:
Publish two instructional plans for climate education in your setting (remote)
July:
Attend Wisconsin cohort day for Summer Institute on Climate Education (virtual) and share instructional plan
June - September:
Conduct 1-hour of teacher training (virtual or in-person)
Specific dates (Live, synchronous meetings are in bold):
- Jan 16 - Feb 12: Asynchronous Training Modules
- Level 0: Understanding Climate Change (3-4 hours)
- Level 1: Teaching About Climate Change (5-6 hours)
- Level 2 Modules 1- 7 (2 hours)
- Feb 12 - 14: Meet with assigned Grade-Band Coordinator (support person for lesson plan) to reflect on Level 0 + 1 (0.5 hours)
- Feb 15 • 4-5:30 PM CT: Day 1: Brainstorming Workshop Synchronous Remote Training (1.5 hours)
- Feb 12-19: Complete Level 2 Module 8 (2 hours)
- Feb 22 • 4-5:30 PM CT: Day 2: Lesson Writing Workshop Synchronous Remote Training (1.5 hours)
- Feb 19-26: Complete Level 2 Module 9 (2 hours)
- Feb 29 • 4-5:30 PM CT: Day 3: Accompanying Materials Workshop Synchronous Remote Training (1.5 hours)
- Feb 26-Mar 4: Complete Level 2 Module 10 (2 hours)
- Mar 7 • 4-5:30 PM CT: Day 4: Review Workshop Synchronous Remote Training (1.5 hours)
- Mar - May: Publish two lesson plans on the Wisconsin Climate Education Hub
- July 15-17: Summer Institute on Climate Change Education, Wisconsin Cohort Day tentatively July 17
- June - September: Offer 1-hour training for 30 educators
- September 15: Invoices due to DPI
Here’s what Teach Wisconsin Climate Network Fellows can expect:
- Contract for Services ($1,000)
- 1-year membership ($40 value) to the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education, including free access to WAEE’s online courses and standard member benefits such as discounts on outdoor gear and more
- Training and support to develop skills that will enhance your resume
- Opportunities to collaborate with professionals in a wide network (priceless)
- Access to participation in additional grant opportunities (priceless)
Please know that as a fellow, we are here to support you throughout each step of the fellowship and we remain open and flexible to your needs.
Interested? Deadline to apply EXTENDED to January 7.
Environmental Education Ambassador Network Fellowship
The Environmental Education Ambassador Network Fellowship is anticipated to begin October 2024 and run through September 2024. This fellowship program will be coordinated by the Department of Public Instruction. More information available spring 2024.