Becoming a Community Partner
Classroom Partners
What is a Sustainability Community Partner?
A business, non-profit, community group, individual, neighborhood, or other organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region that is:
Working to address sustainability issues connected to one or more of the following focus areas: water quality and/or wastewater management; food waste; plastic waste; and the circular economy
Willing to identify and share a problem or challenge that students can take on in an inquiry and action research project, both in and out of the classroom
Able to collaborate with an area teacher and their students on some level
What might a partnership with an area teacher and students involve?
Drafting a "challenge letter" to students outlining the sustainability issue or challenge
Providing insight and feedback to teachers and students as they work to solve a problem
Hosting teachers and students to further their understanding of a problem through a field trip or classroom visit
Celebrating and sharing the students' work on the problem
Attending select events related to the Fellowship experience and teacher and student project work
Acting as a career liaison or development coach to provide career exploration and skill development related to a project
What is the time commitment expected from a Community Partner?
The time commitment will vary across the year, but we expect no more than 10-15 hours of effort over the course of a year.
Planning will occur over the summer, and projects will take place during the school year
Other ways to Partner
Partnerships come in many different shapes and sizes. Community partner roles may also include:
Be part of teacher professional development activities. Share sustainability and pedagogical expertise during workshops or virtual sessions.
Host a meeting onsite so that educators may learn more about real-world sustainability projects in action. Act as a career liaison or field expert to help educators understand what content and projects look like in the real world.
Attend Networking Events. Join us for a school-community networking event to strengthen links between schools, classrooms, and communities.
Participate in a Sharing Event. Learn and celebrate with students during sharing events. Join the Sharing Celebration each June where we honor fellows work at the annual poster presentation.
Provide Examples of Sustainability. Share examples of regional sustainability projects to schools through the Sustainability Teacher Fellowship Program newsletter, social media and resource collection.