Ten Strands is proud to support the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) as they are being recognized as a California Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Honoree. This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment and collaborative spirit exhibited by SCUSD’s leaders, educators, staff, and students in advancing sustainability and environmental literacy initiatives both within their schools and throughout their community.
The journey towards this achievement was catalyzed by Superintendent Gary Waddell partnering with Ten Strands for support in aligning SCUSD’s policies and goals with tangible action steps. With the guidance of the Ten Strands technical assistance team, SCUSD has embarked on a transformative path of integrating environmental and climate action district wide and across the campus, curriculum, community, and culture of each school community.
Over the past two years, Ten Strands and SCUSD have worked together on ambitious projects and initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and action. These include supporting and advancing the following district-wide efforts:
- Launching and sustaining the district wide Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Committee (ELSC)
- Completing a comprehensive environmental and climate-focused baseline assessment and utilizing this assessment to achieve Green Ribbon recognition
- Developing a campus sustainability dashboard that provides real-time data to district facilities to be used by students and administrators to understand the environmental impact of campus and operations
- Developing and implementing an Environmental and Climate Action Plan (ECAP)
- Developing an Environmental Literacy Plan and professional development support
- Supporting structures to foster ongoing youth engagement and pathways for leadership on environmental and climate stewardship initiatives
Last Friday, April 26, SCUSD was honored by the California Department of Education (CDE) with bronze-level Green Ribbon recognition for its progress on this important environmental sustainability journey. The Green Ribbon recognition not only validates SCUSD’s efforts but also serves as an inspiration to continue striving for excellence in sustainability practices and environmental education. Brad Stam, chief academic and innovation officer, expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating,
“Ten Strands was an incredibly valuable partner as we completed our Green Ribbon application. Not only did they provide technical assistance, but also enthusiastic support through partnership and vision that helped us pull together and catalyze all of our efforts into a single plan for Santa Clara Unified.“
We celebrate SCUSD’s achievement as a testament to its collective dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship. It serves as a reminder that through innovation, collaboration, and determination, we can create a brighter, greener future for generations to come.
We look forward to continuing the partnership [with Ten Strands] as we become an exemplary district in the country, said Brad Stam.
Watch Brad’s full testimonial below. Additionally, watch the district’s Green Ribbon Announcement Video to hear directly from SCUSD’s Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Committee members!
