What My Students Taught Me About Resilience

Dear community,

Last spring, my students rolled up their sleeves to care for the trees outside our school and bring new plants into our classrooms. What started as a simple act of stewardship grew into something much bigger—a living lesson in resilience that began years ago.

My name is JoEllen Schuleman, and I’m a teacher and STEM Specialist at PS 199 in Manhattan, NY. Teaching our next generation how to take action and find their voice as leaders is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. And EcoRise has helped me take this work to a whole new level.

Our work with EcoRise began in the fall of 2019, when my Sustainability Squad students sought to prevent dried-out markers from ending up in the landfill. We educated our school about plastic pollution and the benefits of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Then the world stopped. When COVID closed our classrooms, three Squad members found ways to keep organizing, meeting online to continue their work. Watching them adapt reminded me that resilience isn’t just something we teach; it’s something that young people already carry within them. Our role as educators is to help them uncover and grow it.

When we returned to school, the Sustainability Squad conducted our first EcoRise Eco-Audit and wrote our first Student Innovation Grant to fund a face mask recycling box. The moment my students learned they received their first grant was pure magic. I saw students who were once quiet or unsure blossom into leaders who support their peers and inspire their families.

And that spark has grown. This year, nearly 100 students are coming together through two sustainability teams, meeting regularly to lead meaningful environmental action. With support from EcoRise and the Student Innovation Fund, they have improved school recycling, built pollinator gardens, and even written to local officials—earning a New York State Citation for their leadership. They’re learning that resilience grows when we care for each other and our planet.

As their impact continues to grow, so does mine. Teaching about climate change is deeply rewarding, but it can also be challenging. I strive to help my students understand the gravity of local and global issues while not losing the hope that inspires them to be changemakers. EcoRise helps me strike that balance through its resources and community of educators. That support is what keeps both my students and me rooted in resilience.

You can help bring these opportunities to more classrooms by donating to EcoRise. Your gift helps students and teachers everywhere cultivate resilience and turn hope into action. And when you donate by January 8th, your gift will be doubled thanks to the EcoRise Impact Circle.