ee360+ Goal 2: Strengthen Organizational Capacity and Leadership

Objective: An inclusive, dynamic, and robust professional field with the structures and leadership programs needed to sustain high-quality environmental education over the long term at the local, state, regional, and national levels. 

Outputs:

• Supporting state infrastructure and capacity building that enables educators to effectively teach about environmental issues
• Recognizing high-quality environmental education at universities and colleges through Accreditation
• Supporting states and provinces in developing certification programs
• Developing a civics and environmental education fellowship program that builds community resiliency and leadership

Supporting state and provincial infrastructure that enables educators to effectively teach about environmental issues.

Strong and well-coordinated leadership and infrastructure are essential to sustaining high-quality environmental education over the long term at the state, provincial, and national levels. This requires leaders at the state level who are working in concert on carefully planned strategies to advance their EE efforts and prepare more educators to reach broader and more diverse audiences. NAAEE is helping state leadership teams from within the NAAEE Affiliate Network to develop and grow the knowledge and skills they need to advance these efforts. Drawing on research on capacity building and input from state leaders, NAAEE and Affiliate leaders are identifying the ideal structures and programs needed on the state level to sustain environmental education for diverse audiences in formal and non-formal settings over the long term. We developed an organizational assessment tool (OAT) for states to use to determine their strengths and gaps with regard to this model, and identify areas where training will assist them in building their capacity for effective and far-reaching environmental education.

Supporting accreditation efforts to include environmental education in college and university teacher preparation programs.

NAAEE Accreditation formally recognizes high-quality college and university programs that consistently prepare well-qualified environmental educators. The purpose of Accreditation is to provide a third-party, standards-based review process that encourages and recognizes excellence in the preparation and professional development of environmental educators. The accreditation process facilitates the in-depth, continual assessment and improvement of environmental education preparation and professional development programs within higher education institutions. Accreditation helps institutions:

In order to ensure that the Accreditation program reaches its potential audiences effectively, UO is drafting a strategic plan on marketing accreditation to college and university faculty and administrators. UO is in the process of working with a consultant to gather research and write a report on recommendations.

Through mentoring, a strategic marketing plan, and a one-day workshop, NAAEE, and Dr. Bora Simmons will ensure that preservice faculty members understand how they can design their environmental education programs to meet Accreditation standards.

Partners: University of Oregon

In response to input from our Affiliates, NAAEE recently completed a substantial revision of the accreditation program, greatly simplifying the application process and making accreditation more accessible. The revisions have met with strong approval, and all existing certification programs have indicated their intent to apply for accreditation in the near future. To assist with program development, we also created a blueprint for designing certification programs and established a repository of sample documents (course requirements, forms, policy statements, etc.) from current programs.

To advance professionalism in the field of environmental education in Year 1 and beyond, NAAEE will continue to support the development and accreditation of certification programs by providing readily available tools that assist with program design and operation. We will also build on current marketing efforts to promote the merits of both earning certification and hiring certified educators. And, in keeping with input from a 2020 survey of Affiliates, we will pursue a micro-credential initiative that has tremendous potential for increasing access to high-quality environmental education training.

The CEE-Change Fellowship, which supports leadership and innovation in civics and environmental education around the world, began in early July of 2021 with 30 Fellows. NAAEE recognizes the value in fostering leadership within schools and at the community level, promoting civic engagement and environmental responsibility, and ultimately building more resilient and healthy communities. The fellowship program is a partnership with U.S. EPA and the Cedar Tree Foundation to help strengthen environmental education and civic engagement.

Partners: Cedar Tree Foundation, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NAAEE

People: Anne Umali