Ten Strands, California’s leading nonprofit focused on advancing the environmental literacy of K–12 students, has announced the addition of new director of curriculum Roni Jones, who arrives with nearly three decades of success in leading educational systems.
Jones will lead the development of Ten Strands’ new Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program (CCEJP). The project partners Ten Strands with the San Mateo County Office of Education and the California Department of Education to arrange for the creation of K–12 open education resources focused on climate change and environmental justice.
In her role, Jones will coordinate curriculum development efforts, foster productive relationships among partner organizations, direct and implement a communications strategy to generate support and gather feedback for the program, while overseeing its strategy.
“I’m excited to join a Ten Strands team committed to proliferating environmental literacy throughout the state and working toward educational equity for all children,” Jones said. “Throughout my career, whether working with K–12 districts, institutions of higher education, or state and county agencies, I’ve always been motivated by the challenge of reimagining systems and creating positive change. I’m inspired by my new enterprise with Ten Strands.”
Developers have been selected to create curriculum units for CCEJP with the goal of launching the resources for the 2024-25 school year. The work is also supported by a steering committee made up of a diverse group of education and environmental voices and leaders, including students.
Previously, Jones spent three years as the assistant director for the System of Support for the California Collaborative For Educational Excellence (CCEE), where she worked closely with other statewide agency partners to provide planning, facilitation, project management, and implementation for California’s innovative State System of Support.
Her extensive experience also includes serving as organizational development specialist at WestEd, and network liaison for National Geographic Education where she supported the K–12 geography education Alliance Network to implement professional development programs. Additionally, Jones has served as adjunct faculty at California State University, Sacramento, teaching courses in pedagogy, educational foundations, and educational technology, and as professional development coordinator for the Placer County Office of Education.
“Roni brings an incredible mix of formal education leadership and outside-the-box innovation that will boost CCEJP and student environmental literacy as a whole,” Ten Strands CEO Karen Cowe said. “We are thrilled to bring her on board and begin the work of delivering climate change and environmental justice curricula to students across California.”
