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Clean Energy Fellows 2021-22
CE - Clean Energy. Bright Futures.
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CE is committed to transforming education for the next ten years through fostering sustained educator leadership that ensures all students are prepared to participate in, benefit from, and lead the clean energy transition. To successfully transition to an equitable and clean energy economy, we must set up all students for success, as they will be the future energy leaders and architects of community resilience. CE’s Clean Energy Fellows cohorts are designed to harness the genius of both educators and students to support this next generation of leaders facilitating the delivery of justice-centered, career-connected programming.
Strategic Priorities for Clean Energy Fellows projects:
- Access: Broadens access to student participation in the clean energy economy.
- Equity: Is culturally sustaining for the region served and addresses the realities of local equity needs.
- Longevity: Has structures in place that target a longevity of at least 10 years for their programming.
- Reach: Amplifies the impact of local educator leaders within the Clean Energy Fellow’s region.
- Partnership: Involves continuous inroads for collaboration between educator Clean Energy Fellow and critical regional partners (industry, educational, and community groups and organizations).
In 2021-2022 There were 5 Clean Energy Fellows projects, 4 physical school-based projects, and 1 online academy project.
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Fernan STEM Academy
Fernan STEM Academy with the city of Coeur d'Alene Idaho as well as Fernan Community Lake
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Fernan STEM Academy
Fernan STEM Academy is located on the North Shore of Coeur d'Alene Lake. This land is historically a part of the Schitsu'umsh (Coeur d'Alene) tribal lands and some members still live in the area. In 2021-2022, the region was in a period of rapid growth with many people moving to the area.
In 2020, Courtney Greene received the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). As the STEM Coordinator at Fernan, she utilizes her skills to created 3 units in clean energy. These units are intended for use with 3rd-5th grades. At the conclusion of the 3 years, students will be more informed and engaged in local energy systems and have opportunities to make positive changes.
Students fishing at Fernan Lake
The 3rd grade curriculum focuses on wind energy, helping students learn how to measure and harness wind power.
Model of a hydropower turbine
For 4th grade, students build models of hydroelectric turbines and learn about water power. Water power is a primary electrical resource in the region and how most of the power in the area is currently generated.
Greenhouse with solar panels
The 5th grade students have a focus on solar energy. Through Courtney's curriculum students learn how how plants utilize solar energy to grow and sustain life. Students apply that introduction to how solar power generation works and how to measure light for use with solar panels. The students final task is to place solar panels on the school's greenhouse.
Courtney lead the development and facilitation of professional development opportunities for educators at her school and district that focused on her curriculum projects.
As a part of this project Fernan STEM Academy formed partnerships with the University of Idaho: Extension, Avista Power Utilities, Christ the King Church, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.
GreenShed, La Center WA
GreenShed at LaCenter High School, LaCenter WA
Stream at GreenShed
La Center, Washington is a small town located 30 miles north of Portland, Oregon's metro area. This creates a small town community with easy access to large city resources. The Green Shed is a program of La Center High School in collaboration with Clark Public Utility District, is an endeavor to facilitate learning experiences focused upon environmental sustainability that culminate in the construction of a demonstration site that offers classes, extracurricular school-based clubs, families and visitors the opportunity to learn about sustainable land use, watersheds, waste reduction, and clean energies.
Students taking measurements
Rebecca Morris, a CTE, environmental science, and social studies teacher at La Center High School, Kristy Schneider, a STEM teacher at La Center Middle School, and Haylee Tappan, a 4th grade teacher at La Center Elementary school, formed a collaborative team. Working together, they created a progression of opportunities for students to gain environmental sustainability experiences from elementary school through high school. Students from all grade bands were involved with peer mentoring, with high school students mentoring middle school students and middle school students working with elementary school students. Students learned environmental assessment techniques, stream monitoring, and water sampling.
Students examining aquatic invertebrates
At the elementary school, 4th graders learned about sustainability and water quality testing with help from the high school students. They then take this knowledge to the GreenShed where they test the stream and determine it's ability to support salmon. Students learn about clean energy and build models to understand how power generation works.
Students working with soil
At the middle school, students explored the importance of soil nutrients and water. They built 3-part terrariums, with filters and an aquarium to create a greater understanding of a micro ecosystem. Utilizing this tool they explored the impact of environmental pollutants. Additionally, students experimented with energy generation utilizing Muddwatts.
Watershed grates for rainwater collection
At the high school, in addition to assisting with the elementary school and middle school efforts, students were tasked with designing and implementing improvements to the GreenShed. This involved the design, permitting, and construction of a kiosk at the site. Students worked with professionals to understand hydrology of the site, placement and use of rain collection, and solar panel installation.
Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Historical tribal lands compared to the current Coeur d'Alene reservation
The Coeur d'Alene tribe is located in the panhandle of Idaho with a historic range that includes parts of Washington and Montana. The area is forested with rolling hills and mountains containing many grass-crop fields. The tribe has a strong historic relationship the land, and in particular to their local waterways. Based in Plummer, Idaho the heart of the Coeur d'Alene tribe is 45 minutes South of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and East of Spokane, Washington.
Coeur d' Alene Tribe - Plummer Idaho
In an effort to reach the most students, Justin Marsh, College and Career Specialist, and Laura Laumatia, Environmental Programs Manager, collaborated to create a series of energy-based curriculum that can be used in the classroom as well as through after school programs like Boys and Girls Club. Through the project they hope to not only educate the students about clean energy and how it can be used in their community, but to inspire students to pursue energy and environmental careers.
Students create and measure energy.
Justin and Laura created a series of four lessons aimed at 6th - 8th grade students. Beginning with a two-part energy overview students learn to understand energy and the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources. In the next three lessons the students focus on hydropower, wind power, and solar power. Each lesson includes specific references to how the tribe utilizes each and it's impact on the local environment. Lessons also include careers and their expected salary.
Students using solar panels
Students building model windmills
These lessons were made and implemented with partnerships from: Gizmo Coeur d'Alene Makerspace, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Environmental Programs Office - Climate Division, Coeur d'Alene Tribe Education Department of Education, Coeur d'Alene Tribal School, The Coeur Center Boys and Girls Club.
Adel School, Oregon
Adel School, Adel Oregon
Southern Oregon Cattle Drive
Adel is a remote ranching community based in the high desert of Southern Oregon. Many ranches operate off-grid. Both water for cattle and access to power are priorities for this community.
Students attend the Adel School for 5 consecutive years before moving to a regional high school. During this time, Stacey Martin teaches the students as a single mixed-grade class.
Adel School
Students learned about many power options and then used that knowledge to create an information resource for local ranchers to utilize solar power for water pumps for cattle. Additionally, the students toured the state of Oregon to learn how power is created and used around the state.
RISE Institute Online School
Areas with RISE Institute Students
RISE Institute Online opened in the fall of 2020. Based out of San Jose, CA, RISE serves students across North America. Without a physical classroom space, hands-on learning has to be more administered in a new way.
Susan Eslami, the upper grades STEM instructor, worked to create a framework for the introduction of Clean Energy curriculum into the online school structure. When complete, a progression of coursework in sustainability and clean energy will be available for all grades, kindergarten through high school.
Susan also supported CE's partnership with the Northwest Hydropower Association by creating training curriculum and supporting documents for their Hydropower Ambassadors program. The program seeks to train hydropower industry professionals on the best practices in STEM education so that they can engage with their local education communities and connect with students about career pathways.