Now in its ninth year, the EcoRise Ambassador Program continues to grow a powerful national network of educators and school leaders who are championing sustainability education and transforming classrooms into hubs of innovation that prepare students to solve the world’s climate challenges. Since 2020, EcoRise has expanded this work through the Green School Administrator cohort, which complements the long-standing Teacher Ambassador program. While Teacher Ambassadors inspire students and peers through classroom innovation, Green School Administrators focus on shaping school culture and district systems to support that work. EcoRise is excited to welcome new cohorts of both Teacher Ambassadors and Green School Administrators to the new school year.
Their journey began this summer at the EcoRise Summer Institute, where both cohorts came together for three days of professional learning, collaboration, and inspiration at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). As Sarah Bang, Director of P–12 Public School Partnerships at UCLA School of Education & Information Studies (SEIS), noted in an article about the Summer Institute published by UCLA, “By aligning our missions and resources, SEIS and EcoRise are not only bridging the gap between K–12 and higher ed, but also equipping educators with the tools to engage students in real‑world learning rooted in environmental literacy and civic leadership.” The Institute fostered opportunities to explore new teaching strategies with higher-ed professionals, share best practices, and collaborate across regions and disciplines. Teachers and administrators left energized and equipped to champion sustainability education within their schools and communities.
🍎 Teacher Ambassadors: Innovators in the Classroom
Teacher Ambassadors serve as innovators in their classrooms and mentors in their communities—piloting curriculum, engaging students in authentic problem-solving, and inspiring peers to join the movement. Their work demonstrates how sustainability education not only builds environmental literacy, but also fosters creativity, critical thinking, and civic leadership among students.
This year’s cohort consists of 19 inspiring K–12 educators who hail from California beaches to New York City streets and everywhere in between. These teacher leaders support EcoRise’s mission, embody our core values, and support other educators in their local communities to integrate climate education that sparks real-world sustainable changes, one student at a time. This diverse cohort of new and returning Teacher Ambassadors is passionate about creating long-term solutions to local environmental and climate justice issues by bringing together youth, adults, and community organizations.
The 2025–2026 EcoRise Teacher Ambassador cohort includes:
California
- Aimee O’Brien — 4th-grade teacher, Sacramento City USD
- Noelani Ogasawara — 1st–2nd-grade teacher, Los Angeles USD
- Mariel Morikawa — Elementary Coordinator, Los Angeles USD
Texas
- Denisse Ochoa — High School Librarian, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
- Victoria Galvan — AP psychology & world geography, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
- Erin Eggers — 1st-grade teacher, San Antonio ISD
- Isaac Esquivel — 5th-grade environmental educator, Northside ISD, San Antonio
- Estefania Gomez Moreno — 2nd-grade teacher, Galveston ISD
- Ronald Puccetti — CTE teacher, Galveston ISD
- Alicia Kim — Forensic science & physics teacher, Austin ISD
- Lisa Richardson — Bilingual elementary librarian, Austin ISD
- Stacey Smith — Middle school history teacher, Austin ISD
Florida
- Laura Berenguer — High school special education teacher, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
New York
- Garth Marchant — High School STEAM teacher, NYC Public Schools
- Nina Acevedo — High school Spanish teacher & sustainability coordinator, NYC Public Schools
- JoEllen Schuleman — Elementary STEM Specialist, NYC Public Schools
Washington, DC
- Sabina Malkani — 2nd-grade science & literacy intervention, DC Public Schools
- Octavia Wolf — 5th-grade teacher, DC Public Schools
- Lauren Williams — Anatomy & physiology and environmental health teacher, DC Public Schools
See full Ambassador bios and photos here.
🌍 Green School Administrators: Growing Systems-Level Leadership
Since its launch in 2020, the Administrator Ambassador program has equipped school and district leaders with the tools to champion sustainability at the systems level. Administrators play a critical role in shaping school culture, aligning policies, and creating the conditions for teachers and students to thrive. By bringing together forward-thinking school leaders, EcoRise is cultivating a community of change agents who can scale sustainability initiatives beyond a single classroom.
To better support their impact, EcoRise, UCLA SEIS, and the Green Schools National Network hosted an administrator-focused education track at the Summer Institute, providing tailored professional development that addressed the unique challenges and opportunities of systems-level leadership. As UCLA noted, hosting the program at its campus “felt like the right place for these urgent conversations, connections, and commitments to take root and grow.” The Administrator Ambassador program continues to evolve as a cornerstone of EcoRise’s national leadership strategy, ensuring that systemic change keeps pace with classroom innovation.
The 2025–2026 EcoRise Green Schools Administrator cohort includes:
- Ava Gilani Jacobs — Director of Curriculum and Instruction at UCLA Lab School in Los Angeles, California
- Cherice Greene — Assistant Principal at Benjamin Banneker High School in DC Public Schools, Washington, DC
- Erin Dunroe — Principal at Cresson Elementary in Little Lake City School District, Norwalk, California
- Gina Saenz — Assistant Principal at PSJA Memorial ECHS in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Alamo, Texas
- Mercedes Buckhorn — Assistant Principal at Rosewood Park STEAM Academy in Montebello USD, Commerce, California
See full Admin bios and photos here.
🌟 Collective Leadership for a Sustainable Future
The Teacher Ambassadors and Green School Administrators embody two essential sides of the same movement: classroom innovation and systems-level change. When administrators and teachers work in tandem, entire school ecosystems are transformed—curriculum, facilities, policies, and culture all move together toward sustainability. Together, they are building sustainable school ecosystems where students are galvanized, educators are supported, and communities are strengthened.
“I’ve had the chance to learn so much, connect with other educators, and come away feeling inspired and ready to make a difference. This experience has helped me grow both personally and professionally, giving me new ideas and tools I’m excited to bring back to my school.”
—Green School Administrator
The programs are supported by our partners, DocuSign.org, the Green Schools National Network, Southwest Airlines, and UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, whose commitment to sustainability education empowers educators and school leaders nationwide.
🚀 Join Us in Celebrating the 2025 Ambassadors
We invite you to meet the 2025 EcoRise Teacher and Administrator Ambassadors and celebrate their leadership in shaping a more sustainable future for our schools and communities. Explore the full list of Ambassadors here, follow their stories throughout the year on the EcoRise blog and social media, and consider how your district can join this growing movement.
Together, we can activate the next generation of leaders, transform learning environments, and build a healthier, more resilient world. Together, #WeRise!
