District prioritizes sustainability through Eco Leader Program

In light of the recent SMMUSD Sustainability Plan, the district is developing an Eco Leader Program open to all schools district wide to help educate the Santa Monica community on how to increase sustainable practices. The Eco Leader Program is being developed by the district Sustainability Steering Committee, the district sustainability coordinator Caroline Coster and Samo’s Team Marine club.  The program aims to inform students, staff and faculty about the progress and goals of the district in regard to sustainability and offers ways individuals can help. Each meeting will cover different topics such as water, waste, energy or transportation (modeled after the different sections of the sustainability plan). The goal is to educate the attendees in these subject areas so they can bring the information to their respective schools. Coster will be heading the implementation of the program.“We are hoping people are interested in becoming experts on the district sustainability plan, help guide their schools in becoming more sustainable, join more district programs and be a resource [at the campus that I can communicate with] since I cannot be at every campus everyday,” Coster said.Coster explained that the rationale for creating the program is that the district needs more sustainability leaders at every school. Currently, some schools have a much stronger presence in the environmental conversation than others, so the goal is to simultaneously equalize opportunities for students to get involved as well as make sure each school is represented in decisions that are made. The trainings will be administered in partnership with Team Marine, Samo’s student-run environmental organization, and the district sustainability steering committee through small classroom groups in a combination of lectures, workshops and discussion. “Team Marine is very excited to help develop the program. It will encourage and educate more people within our district to take care of our planet through their actions and decisions. Education is the most potent weapon against the climate crisis, and spreading awareness is always something Team Marine looks to do,” Team Marine member Isabel Homberg Reissmeier (’21) said. The program will begin in January 2020 and is currently in its early planning stages. Ultimately, the Eco Leader Program aims to educate groups of staff, students and faculty so that there is a flow of sustainable practices throughout the district.