Jersey City Teachers Get Trained on Sustainability and Launch Student Led Eco-Projects Throughout the City

Teachers from 12 Jersey City schools received free sustainability education training with New Jersey Audubon through the Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education Program with support from the Jersey City Board of Education. Participants learned techniques to integrate STEM learning into the classroom while incorporating environmental issues into the curriculum. The training skills are already being put to use as schools have begun launching student led eco-projects to reduce waste and energy usage and improve indoor air quality.

Eight of the 12 schools (plus six additional Jersey City schools) are registered with Eco-Schools USA a partnership between National Wildlife Federation and New Jersey Audubon that recognizes schools integrating sustainability into the curriculum and on school grounds.

Teacher Al Padilla of PS 5 participated in the training and has led the school team that earned his school the distinguished Eco-Schools USA Silver Award. When his students expressed an interest in improving the air quality in their school, he encouraged them to think like scientists and act like engineers. As a result, students have gone beyond their initial public awareness campaign to reduce motor vehicle idling outside the school and have begun researching and designing their own window screens that will actually filter the air they breathe in the classroom. The young scientists are testing a variety of materials including cotton swabs, pollution masks, and paper clips and magnets.

Students in William L. Dickinson High School’s Science and Sustainability class are challenging their peers to reduce waste from the school lunchroom as well as implement a schoolwide anti-littering campaign. James J. Ferris High School students are tackling wasted electricity by encouraging the public to unplug electronic devices when not in use. They will also soon begin a recycling campaign this winter and a project to help clean up garbage on the streets outside their school.

Dorene Thornton of James J. Ferris High school states “My time with New Jersey Audubon was one of the best professional development experiences I’ve ever had. I gained valuable teaching tips and ways to structure a lesson so that the students can explore nature and learn while they were exploring. There is a profound difference in my students’ demeanor at the end of the class when we do this. They are considerably calmer. Most of them have never realized that there was so much nature to see in the city.”

The training, sponsored by Honeywell, Inc. consisted of 24 professional development hours and included indoor instruction in addition to outdoor experiences. Teachers received full tuition along with a Jersey City Board of Education approved weekly stipend and a $500 mini-grant for successful completion to be used during the 2015-2016 school year. Content was designed to help teachers provide hands-on-learning experiences for students that strengthened critical analytic and creaking thinking skills and inspired students to take a more active role in preserving their environment.

“New Jersey Audubon’s work with the Jersey City teachers is a great opportunity to frame environmental education and sustainability education in an urban community” says Dale Rosselet, vice president for education, New Jersey Audubon. “There is incredible interest the Eco-Schools program, as well as the student-centered learning that supports STEM learning and the Next Generation Science Standards.”

Twelve schools participated in the training including Dr. Michael Conti PS 5, Franklin Williams Middle School MS 7, Henry Snyder High School, Hudson County Community College, James J. Ferris High School, Joseph H. Brensinger PS 17, the Learning Community Charter School, PS 14, PS 24, St. Peters Prep, and William L. Dickinson High School. Eight of these schools, along with six others participate in Eco-Schools USA. With a total 14 registered Eco-Schools in the city, Jersey City holds claim to the most registered Eco-Schools in any one city or town in New Jersey. There are 182 Eco-Schools registered statewide.

About Eco-Schools

Eco-Schools is an international program in 60 countries with over 3,000 participating schools in the United States. The program, hosted by the National Wildlife Federation in the United States, and coordinated by New Jersey Audubon in New Jersey has 182 schools registered throughout the state. The Eco-Schools program recognizes and rewards schools as they work to extend learning beyond the classroom and develop responsible environmental attitudes and commitments both at home and in the wider community. Eco-Schools USA in New Jersey supports and directly aligns with Sustainable Jersey for Schools point-based system. With support from PSEG and The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Eco-Schools USA is able to provide a staff person on the ground to help New Jersey schools reach their goals. For more information: http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx

About National Wildlife Federation:

National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization inspiring people to protect wildlife for our children’s future. NWF focuses its education and policy work on connecting children to nature for a nation of happier, healthier kids. NWF’s state affiliate is NJ Audubon. For more information: www.nwf.org.

About New Jersey Audubon:

New Jersey Audubon is a privately supported, not-for profit, statewide membership organization that fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey’s citizens; protects New Jersey’s birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey’s valuable natural habitats. For more information: www.njaudubon.org.