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From Complexity to Action: Using Systems Mapping to Spark Environmental and Climate Action in TK–12 Schools
Room: 208
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Driving environmental and climate action in schools is most effective when changemakers engage the whole system—from facilities and operations, to curriculum and instruction, to different aspects of community and culture. This session introduces participants to a practical systems tool designed to spark collaboration and reveal action opportunities. Through a hands-on strategy activity, attendees will surface key variables and identify leverage points for advancing environmental and climate action.
This session equips participants with a replicable process they can take back to their own contexts to engage administrators, faculty and staff, students, families, and partners in seeing the bigger picture together. By making the system visible, participants will leave with new insights and a concrete tool to convene conversations, identify shared priorities, and accelerate transformational change.
Facilitators will also share real-world use cases and stories of change from applying this approach in their own school communities.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1) Apply a practical systems mapping tool to surface the key components of the TK–12 education system that are most relevant to environmental and climate action within the campus, curriculum, community and culture.
2) Identify leverage points and entry points for action within their own school or district context that can accelerate environmental and climate initiatives.
3) Engage diverse groups—administrators, staff, students, families, and community partners— using systems mapping as a strategy for building shared understanding and priorities.
4) Draw inspiration from real-world use cases, hearing how others have applied this tool to convene stakeholders and drive transformational change in schools and communities.
Speakers:
Andra Yeghoian, Chief Innovation Officer, Ten Strands
Amity Sandage, Environmental Literacy Coordinator, Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Andra Yeghoian is the Chief Innovation Officer for Ten Strands, a San Francisco Based nonprofit whose mission is to build and strengthen the partnerships and strategies that brings environmental literacy to all California’s students. Andra has over 20 years of experience in education across public and private school systems, nationally and internationally, and has served in a variety of roles, including: County-Level Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Coordinator, Site-Level Director of Sustainability, Secondary Humanities Teacher, Project Manager, Professional Development Facilitator, Adjunct Faculty, and Organizational Consultant. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and a Teaching Credential from UC Davis, and an MBA in Sustainable Systems from Presidio Graduate School, and an Administrative Services Credential.
Most recently, Andra’s work has focused on implementing visionary leadership for a whole systems approach to integrating environmental and climate action across all aspects of K-12 schools: campus and operations, curriculum and instruction, community engagement, and organizational culture. Additionally, under her leadership she has supported school sites, districts, and county offices in achieving honors such as the U.S. Department of Education and California Green Ribbon Award, Bay Area Green Business Certification, and LEED Platinum Certification for New Buildings.
Amity Sandage is the environmental literacy coordinator for Santa Cruz County Office of Education leading a countywide effort to build environmental literacy of K–12 students. Amity works to increase student access to outdoor learning and to support teachers in using local environmental connections to increase relevance of core instruction across content areas and to create opportunities for civic and environmental action. Amity served as a regional coordinator for the California Department of Education’s California Regional Environmental Education Community Network and currently serves on the board of the California Environmental Education Foundation. As a graduate of Pitzer College and the Center for Informal Learning and Schools Program, she focused on environmental studies, cross-age teaching and service learning programs, inquiry-based science program development, and the integration of school and community-based education programs.
