STAGE 2: Embrace Sustainability as an Organization

STAGE 2 components provide the foundation for an organization to embrace Sustainability and become committed to the sustainability journey. They can occur in any order but ultimately they are all important.

Empower and support a Sustainability Champion(s) who:

  • Is a teacher, administrator, other staff person, parent, board member or student.
  • Has credibility and works in concert with the district.
  • Provides the initial passion, energy and drive.
  • Introduces Sustainability to people within the district.

Establish a School / District Sustainability Committee:

  • Ensure involvement of all stakeholders. Include the superintendent or equivalent (critical!!!), department heads (from both teaching & learning and facilities & operations), teachers & staff, students, board and community members.
  • An existing group that is interested in taking on the sustainability effort might be a starting point, (such as a green team, safety committee or other).
  • A chairperson or facilitator is needed who has time, authority and sustainability knowledge (or coaching) to guide the group.

Adopt an organizational sustainability policy, vision or strategic goal to provide:

  • Justification and vision for the effort.
  • Continuity of the effort, even as people come in and out.
  • A sustainability definition and identification of a guiding sustainability framework (for instance The Natural Step)
  • Involvement of all school/district activities (education, operations, administrative, etc.)

 

Potential actions for the champion(s) and/or committee include:

  • Provide guidance, broaden the effort, increase ownership and provide recognition.
  • Set the course, establish sustainability goals and guide development of a supportive infrastructure.
  • Inventory sustainability efforts to date.
  • Implement Stage 3 activities.
  • If time is still available, help staff to identify or possibly implement projects.


To continue the sustainability journey see STAGE 3
(It’s possible to begin STAGE 3 before all components of STAGE 2 are completed.)

 

SSC

Take Action

The Sustainability Journey

Take Action - Intro

STAGE 1: Establish Selected Practices

STAGE 2: Embrace Sustainability as an Organization

STAGE 3: Integrate Sustainability Systematically

Thoughts to guide the sustainability journey

Demonstrated top-level support REALLY helps!

Include and train “on-the-ground” staff in order to achieve maximum success.

Change is difficult. It’s very helpful (perhaps necessary) to obtain coaching from someone not employed by the district.