Education for Sustainable Development

Democracy and Sustainability Academy in Alameda

Sylvia GibsonAUSD TeacherGreenMBA Candidate,Dominican University

Sustainability

"Sustainable development is

development that meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability

of future generations to meet their own needs.”

~ The Brundtland Commission, convened by the United Nations, 1983

21st Century Challenges

Climate Change Poverty

Energy Water

WarTransportation

Agriculture Urbanization

Population Growth Resource Depletion Habitat Loss

Economic Justice Security Pollution Survival

Democracy and Sustainability Academy

Learning Goals: Participatory Democracy Community Engagement Trans-Disciplinary Studies Systems Thinking Global Perspectives Sustainability Education Core Academics

Participatory Democracy

Students will engage in school-wide democratic activities and develop a life long commitment to civic engagement.

Judicial Committee~ Leadership~Students make the rules Students

guideInterpret the rules the vision andEnforce the rules mission of the

school

Citizenship~All students participate inschool-wide decision making

Community

Students will engage in a schoolculture of community, collaboratewith the greater community, and understand their connections tothe global community.

Internships MentorsSchool Garden Business PartnershipPot-lucks Community CollegeProjects GrantsScholarships Cultural EventsSchool Leadership Problem SolvingGlobal Exchange Stakeholder Engagement

Trans-Disciplinary Studies

Students will use trans-disciplinary approaches to solve problems and learn core academic skills.

Physics~Ecology~Communication~Technology~Math~Ethics~Economics

Systems Thinking

Students will understand the theory and practical

applications of systems thinking.

Systems thinking emphasizes the

qualities of relationships,

connectedness, and context—

in any system, whether an

ecosystem or a school system.

Global Perspectives

Students will understand the responsibilities of and acquire the skills needed to be global citizens.

Foreign Language Studies

Student Exchange

Diplomacy

International Sister Schools

International Field Trips

Global Policy

Global Trade

Sustainability

Students will study all subjects through the lens of sustainability.

Intergenerational Responsibility Interconnectedness Ecological Systems Economic Systems Social and Cultural Systems Personal Action Collective Action

Education for Sustainable Development~ The Movement

Center for EcoliteracyLocal Green Schools Initiative

Edible Schoolyard CA Sustainable Schools

Sustainable Oregon SchoolsNational Sustainable Schools Project, VT

WA state content standards Facing the Future Cloud Foundation

Global US Partnership for Educationfor Sustainable

Development UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

Democracy and Sustainability Academy

6-12 District Magnet or Charter School 180 Students 6 Teachers Shared Leadership Model Flexible Student Schedule (independent work

time; community partnerships; school wide meetings)

School site with a central community space

Next Steps

Board adoption of sustainability mission statement Teacher survey around sustainability instruction and

interest A formal proposal outlining school mission, structure,

and milestones A place in the Master Plan A leadership team to develop curriculum, initiate

community partnerships, and seek start up grants