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National sustainability education non-profit plans to grow teacher graduate courses that connect classrooms to climate literacy and action

San Francisco, CA (June 7, 2023) — San Francisco-based Presidio Graduate School, a national leader in sustainability-focused graduate education, is transferring its climate change education graduate program for K–12 teachers to national sustainability education nonprofit EcoRise. After a competitive process, Presidio Graduate School selected EcoRise as the organization best suited to grow and expand the impact of its K–12 teacher courses, while Presidio focuses on its upcoming merger with the University of Redlands.

With a 15-year history of providing curricula, resources, and professional development to K–12 educators across the U.S., EcoRise expects to grow the number of educators enrolled in the program and deepen the program’s impact—such as helping educators feel more confident and informed about incorporating climate change topics into their lesson plans.

Presidio Graduate School’s Climate Change Education for All program currently consists of three courses that prepare K–12 teachers to integrate climate literacy with a focus on solutions into their classrooms. Equity and systems thinking are ingrained in the courses, which inspire individual, local, and national climate action through education. The courses help educators earn either Professional Development hours, Continuing Education Units, or Graduate Credit. 300 educators have completed courses this semester. After completing one or more of the courses in the program, 94% of educators share they are more confident in their climate science knowledge and 96% say their students will be more climate literate because of the strategies they have learned.

“Presidio Graduate School is thrilled to pass our successful teacher climate ed program to EcoRise,” said Liz Maw, Presidio Graduate School’s President. “EcoRise is well positioned to build this program to new heights and help it scale to thousands of teachers across the county. This is the critical moment to ensure that all of our youngest generation is equipped with accurate information about the causes of climate change and how they can be part of its solution”.

“Educators who are well-versed in climate literacy are an essential part of combatting the climate crisis. They are in a unique position to educate and support the next generation of climate leaders who are essential to the future of healthy, thriving communities,” said EcoRise’s Executive Director, Jonathan Stott. “EcoRise is looking forward to building on the foundation that Presidio created with their Climate Change Education for All program by growing course enrollment, integrating EcoRise resources, and deepening its impact.”

The Climate Change Education for All program has been made possible through the generous funding of the Enlight Foundation, the Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation, the Helzel Family Foundation, and others.

To learn more about the graduate courses visit https://k12.presidio.edu/climate-education/. Sign up to receive updates about the Climate Change Education for All Program and when courses will reopen here.

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About EcoRise
EcoRise mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. The national non-profit organization offers a range of curricula and programs for students, teachers, school districts, and partners, designed to advance environmental literacy, sustainable schools, and equitable access to green career pathways. EcoRise is currently supporting more than 9,000 teachers in helping over 500,000 students solve real-world sustainability challenges concerning energy, water, waste, transportation, air quality, food, and public spaces. To learn more about EcoRise, visit ecorise.org.

About Presidio Graduate School
Presidio Graduate School was launched in 2002 with a vision to change education by integrating principles of sustainability and social impact into every course. Presidio’s mission is to educate changemaekers to build a flourishing future for all, and our 2,000 alumni drive change in business, government, nonprofits, and schools across the country. In 2023/2024, Presidio will become a unit of the University of Redlands, continuing our degrees with a new home at the University of Redlands Marin Campus in San Anselmo. To learn more, visit www.presidio.edu.

Media Contacts
Liz Maw, Presidio, liz.maw@presidio.edu
Laura Fuller, EcoRise, laura@ecorise.org