Technical Assistance Services for Environmental and Climate Action Initiatives

Ten Strands offers Technical Assistance Services that support education-focused organizations to design and implement environmental and climate action initiatives that take place across the campus, curriculum, community, and overall culture of a school community.

We recognize that change occurs across different phases—establishing buy-in, assessing the current status, strategic planning, implementation, and continuous improvement.

Ten Strands is offering customized services to schools, districts, county offices of education, nonprofits, other public agencies, and individuals within organizations, in addition to piloting a capacity-building program that provides cohort-style technical assistance.

MAIN SERVICE TYPES

Consultation Service and Coaching

Provide field context, identify needs, assist with challenges, and share best practices to strengthen environmental literacy, climate action, and engagement efforts through problem-solving, strategic support, and capacity-building services.

Networking

Facilitate connections with community-based partner organizations, agencies, service providers, and field leaders to foster collaboration, leverage resources, and support initiatives that advance environmental sustainability, climate literacy, and resilience within communities.

Training & Professional Learning

Develop and deliver single or series-focused training for faculty, staff, leadership, students, and partners, emphasizing curriculum, campus, or community engagement to advance environmental literacy and climate-focused goals.

Assessment & Strategic Planning

Conduct assessments, develop strategic plans, and support implementation, focusing on environmental literacy, sustainability, and climate action to foster measurable progress in education, community engagement, and organizational capacity-building.

Project Management

Manage or support curriculum development, engagement programs, or sustainable infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with environmental literacy goals, climate resilience efforts, and the advancement of sustainability in schools and communities.

For questions about technical assistance services, please contact chief innovation officer Andra Yeghoian at ayeghoian@tenstrands.org.

CUSTOMIZABLE MENU OF SERVICES

Whole Systems Change and Integration of Environmental and Climate Action Community and Culture

Deliverable	What The Deliverable is and Why It Matters for Schools	Services Ten Strands Can Provide
Green Ribbon Application Support	The Green Ribbon Program is an award program recognizing schools for excellence in sustainability across three pillars: Pillar I: Reduce environmental impact and costs; Pillar II: Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and Pillar III: Provide effective environmental and sustainability education Green Ribbon Schools are recognized as some of California’s most successful educational institutions in reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness, and providing effective sustainability education.	Ten Strands can provide Green Ribbon technical assistance services ranging from consultative services and coaching, to customized project management and application drafting – see a full overview of ten strands services here and a list of services below. Coaching Data gathering and application writing Project management Post application summary and communicating
Environmental and Climate Action Baseline Assessment	An Environmental and Climate Action (ECA) Baseline Assessment outlines how environmental sustainability and climate resilience efforts happen across all facets of an institution: campus and operations, curriculum and instruction, and community and culture. This process formalizes the buy-in process for sustainability and climate resiliency, creates a shared understanding of current status, and builds a common language. It engages more stakeholders and prepares the district for effective strategic planning, technical implementation, and continuous improvement.	Ten Strands can provide comprehensive technical assistance services for Environmental and Climate Action Baseline Assessments including: Coaching schools or districts through the process Project management: site visits, assessments, reports, and data analysis Support with public relations and communication with community on baseline assessment findings
Environmental and Climate Action Plan	An Environmental and Climate Action Plan (ECAP) focuses on integrating sustainability and climate resiliency into all aspects of a school community—facilities, operations, curriculum, and culture. It aligns with the broader strategic goals of the school but specifically addresses environmental literacy and climate action, ensuring schools are prepared for the ongoing impacts of climate change. This plan supports schools in minimizing disruptions, complying with policy expectations, preparing students for green careers, and responding to community demand for climate action.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for Environmental and Climate Action Plans (ECAP) including: Coaching existing staff through the process Project management of plan development: supporting or leading vision setting, goal development, and identifying strategies and priorities. Support with public relations and communications of ECAP
Sustainability Committee	A Sustainability Committee provides the structure to drive environmental and climate action initiatives by organizing and empowering a diverse group of school community members—administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, and partners. These committees are essential for fostering communication, accountability, and leadership within sustainability efforts, helping to prioritize and sustain momentum. They guide the cultural and behavioral shifts needed for transformative change, ensuring sustainability initiatives are aligned with both school operations and policy support.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for Sustainability Committees including: Coaching an already existing paid staff to lead the sustainability committee Facilitating Sustainability Committee monthly meetings or subcommittee groups
Youth Leadership	Effective youth leadership programs move students from knowledge to action, equipping them with foundational skills in systems thinking, design thinking, and environmental justice. These programs provide opportunities to explore climate issues in a trauma-informed way, design solutions, and take meaningful action with guided implementation. Youth leadership initiatives prepare students to develop real-world problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills essential for addressing climate challenges.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for building Youth Leadership including: Coaching support to already existing paid or volunteer staff to develop and implement youth engagement efforts Designing and implementing youth engagement programs and offerings
Support for Environmental and Climate Themed Policies	Environmental and climate-themed policies are powerful tools for driving systemic change in schools, helping to integrate sustainability and climate action across campus operations, curriculum, and community culture. By passing and implementing these policies, school districts can create a culture of sustainability and climate readiness, embed environmental literacy and sustainable practices within the institution to align with broader goals for long-term climate resiliency and educational impact.	Services Ten Strands Can Provide: Assisting with the development of environmental and climate-themed policies Providing guidance on best practices for policy drafting and implementation Supporting stakeholder engagement and board advocacy Coaching for schools and districts in policy integration across curriculum and operations Project management assistance

Campus (facilities and operations) Environmental Sustainability and Climate Mitigation, and Climate Adaptation

Deliverable	What The Deliverable is and Why It Matters for Schools	Services Ten Strands Can Provide
Local Hazard and Mitigation Planning (LHMP)	A Local Hazard and Mitigation Plan (LHMP) engages the entire school community in identifying risks, prioritizing actions to reduce those risks, and gaining broad support for safety initiatives. It provides two key components: Risk Assessment: Profiles natural hazards and their potential impacts Mitigation Actions: Outline steps the district can take to protect vulnerable communities. An approved LHMP is essential for applying to FEMA grant programs like BRIC and Flood Mitigation Assistance, HMGP and HMGP-Post Fire, and adopting it into the General Plan can increase cost-sharing under California’s Disaster Assistance Act.	Ten Strands can provide Local Hazard and Mitigation Planning technical assistance services through: Coaching an already existing paid staff through the process Project management of plan development: supporting or leading vision setting, goal development, and identifying strategies and priorities. Support with public relations and communications of LHMP
Specific Environmental Sustainability or Climate Resilience Initiatives	(e.g., zero waste, energy resiliency, water resiliency, living schoolyards and outdoor classrooms, etc.) Sustainable schools focus on greening facilities and operations to reduce their environmental impact, incorporating practices like energy and water conservation, zero waste, living schoolyards, and outdoor classrooms. Climate-resilient schools prepare for climate-related impacts such as wildfires, extreme weather, and flooding, ensuring minimal disruption to learning while safeguarding student health and well-being. These initiatives not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also transform schools into models and learning hubs for climate readiness, promoting equitable access to safe, healthy environments for students and staff.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for specific environmental sustainability or climate resilience initiatives including: Coaching an already existing paid staff through the process Planning and implementing the initiative: this includes assessment, planning, implementation support, and pilot evaluation
Campus Sustainability Dashboards	A campus sustainability dashboard offers transparent and accessible data on facilities and operations, including energy, water, waste, and procurement. It serves as a crucial tool for awareness, advocacy, and action among stakeholders. By simplifying data presentation, the dashboard enhances the campus’s role as a living laboratory and helps reduce its ecological footprint. It can facilitate benchmarking, support sustainability awards applications, and aid in creating environmental and climate action plans.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services to support for Campus Sustainability Dashboards including: Coaching an already existing paid staff through the process Ten Strands can also project management the development and early implementation including: assessment, planning and design, training, and pilot evaluation

Curriculum: Environmental and Climate Literacy Integration

Deliverable	What The Deliverable is and Why It Matters for Schools	Services Ten Strands Can Provide
Environmental Literacy Baseline Assessment	An Environmental Literacy Baseline Assessment Assessment supports districts and schools in integrating environmental literacy into their curriculum and instruction, responding to state and local policy imperatives. This assessment highlights the connection between environmental literacy and major accountability frameworks within the California TK–12 education system. With the pressing threats of environmental degradation and climate change, there is a transformative shift in college and career pathways. The assessment ensures that environmental and climate literacy are woven across all subject areas and grade levels, providing students with opportunities to build knowledge, skills, and values through problem-based and solutionary learning, as well as outdoor experiences.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for Environmental Literacy Baseline Assessment including: Analyzing current curriculum to identify gaps and opportunities for integrating environmental literacy Design and conduct surveys to gather input from constituents Facilitate focus group discussions to assess community needs Development of a scope and sequence and/or grade level/subject area resource map
Environmental or Climate Literacy Plan	The Environmental or Climate Literacy Plan serves as a strategic framework detailing how environmental and climate literacy is integrated across grade levels and subject areas (Science, English Language Arts, History-Social Science, etc.). This plan provides a clear scope and sequence of learning objectives and outcomes at each grade level, ensuring that students progressively engage with environmental concepts and skills. Additionally, it incorporates field experiences with community-based partners (CBPs) to enrich learning and application in real-world contexts. Implementing an Environmental Literacy Plan is crucial for preparing students to understand and address the pressing challenges of environmental degradation and climate change and empowers students to become informed advocates for sustainability in their communities.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services regarding Environmental or Climate Literacy Plans including: Coaching for already existing paid staff in developing and implementing the plan. Project management of plan development: supporting or leading vision setting, goal development, and identifying strategies and priorities. Support with public relations and communications of the plan
Environmental and Climate Literacy Professional Learning	Environmental and Climate Literacy Professional Learning encompasses a comprehensive range of training focused on innovative teaching strategies that enhance environmental literacy among students. This includes solutionary teaching and learning practices, outdoor learning and play strategies, and environmentally aligned, trauma-informed approaches. The professional development sessions aim to empower educators to effectively integrate environmental concepts across various subjects and grade levels. Effective professional learning equips educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster environmental literacy in their students, promoting critical thinking and proactive problem-solving. This training not only supports academic achievement but also prepares students to engage meaningfully with pressing environmental issues, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.	Ten Strands can provide professional development technical assistance services focused on environmental and climate literacy. Examples include: Capacity Building: Providing professional learning designed to enhance understanding of environmental and climate literacy concepts and teaching strategies along the integration continuum ranging from supplemental integration to knowledge-to-action solutionary project based learning. Trainer of Trainer: Programs designed to equip selected staff with the skills and resources to train their peers
Model Curriculum	Creating a model curriculum that effectively integrates environmental literacy with project/problem-based learning methodologies fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem solving skills among students while embedding environmental concepts across various subjects and grade levels. Integrating environmental literacy into the curriculum helps students connect classroom learning to real-world challenges.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for developing model curriculum including: Coaching an already existing paid staff through the process of implementing a new curriculum design Designing curriculum and providing professional learning support for educators to implement
Field-based Environmental Education with CBPs Scope and Sequence	Developing a scope and sequence for connecting Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with Community Based Partners (CBPs) allows for outlining how and when field-based environmental education experiences can be integrated into curriculum. Field-based environmental education enhances students’ understanding of ecological principles, promotes environmental stewardship, and encourages experiential learning.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for schools in identify opportunities for field-based environmental education with community based partners (CBPs): Setting up partnerships between LEAs (or school sites) and CBPs Supporting educator teams to identify a scope and sequence of opportunities that connect with curriculum Develop and train educators on pre and post activities for field based experiences
Connecting LEAs to local environmental education providers (CBPs)	Fostering connections between Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Community Based Partners (CBPs) enables LEAs to explore opportunities for collaboration that enhance their curriculum. By fostering these connections, schools can leverage local resources to integrate field-based environmental education into their programming.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance networking services by providing support for LEAs to identify which CBPs they are most interested in working with and connecting them to partners.

Initiative or Regional Network Backbone Support

Deliverable	What The Deliverable is and Why It Matters for Schools	Services Ten Strands Can Provide
Backbone support for regional networks with collective action or impact goals	Providing backbone support” means offering essential, foundational support that keeps an initiative or regional network running smoothly. Backbone support means providing the core infrastructure that enables other elements to function effectively.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for running regional networks. Examples of services include: Support for identifying shared vision and goals Partner coordination Meeting facilitation Public relations and communications Pass through funding and subcontracting services Metrics and evaluation
Asset Mapping	Asset mapping involves identifying and documenting the existing resources, strengths, and opportunities within a community or organization related to environmental and climate education. This process helps in recognizing local assets (i.e. community-based partners (CBPs), supportive constituents, etc.) that can be leveraged to enhance environmental literacy and sustainability initiatives.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for Asset Mapping including: Coaching and support for data collection on partners Development of an asset map
Metrics Design	Metrics design involves developing a framework to assess and measure the effectiveness of environmental and climate education initiatives. This includes identifying key performance indicators (KPIs), data collection methods, and evaluation strategies to track progress and impact over time.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for Metrics Design including: Consultation on metrics development Coaching on data collection methods Creation of evaluation frameworks Support for reporting and analysis
Grant Support	Grant support encompasses a range of services designed to assist schools and organizations in securing funding for environmental and climate education initiatives. This includes providing guidance on relevant grant opportunities, such as EPA grants, NOAA B-Wet grants, CREEC grants, Golden State Pathways, and Strong Workforce, to enhance the capacity for implementing effective programs.	Ten Strands can provide technical assistance services for grant support including: Support with collecting data and coaching around grant writing Support and coaching around implementation Writing sections of the grant Directly engaging in aspects of implementation Collecting fiscal and/or narrative data for reporting

In the 2023-24 School year, Ten Strands is working with the following organizations:

Proof Point Districts: Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative, Long Beach Unified School District Environmental Literacy Plan
Proof Point Regional Collaborations: Santa Clara County Youth Climate Initiative (SCCYCI); Tulare County Sequoia Environmental Education Directive (SEED)
Statewide Projects and Non-Profit Support: CAL-MSCS, Climate Generation Teacher Institute for California

"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."

Brad Stam – Chief Academic and Innovation Officer at Santa Clara Unified School District

"I appreciated the connections I made with various community members at the Summer Sequoia Environmental Education Directive (SEED) Institute, and meeting all the teachers who were like-minded about climate change. I gained a lot of knowledge, specifically the work being done in Tulare County to mitigate and adapt to climate change."

SEED Summer Institute 2024 Participant

"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."

Brad Stam – Chief Academic and Innovation Officer at Santa Clara Unified School District

Technical Assistance Team

Andra Yeghoian

Chief Innovation Officer

Andra has over 20 years of experience in education across public and private school systems, nationally and internationally, and has served in a variety of roles, including: County-Level Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Coordinator, Site-Level Director of Sustainability, Secondary Humanities Teacher, Project Manager, Professional Development Facilitator, Adjunct Faculty, and Organizational Consultant. Andra is an experienced technical assistance provider, and has supported school communities of all types, sizes, and locations to integrate environmental and climate action across all aspects of school life: campus and operations, curriculum and instruction, community engagement, and organizational culture. Through her guidance and expertise, Andra has helped school communities achieve honors such as the U.S. Department of Education and California Green Ribbon Award, Green Business Certification, and an assortment of other environmental and climate related awards and recognitions.

Sarah Whiting

Director of Client Engagement Services and Data Science

Through her roles as a teacher leader, district level TOSA, and county level coordinator, Sarah Whiting has gained experience building educator capacity in individual teachers as well as teams ranging from grade level to district, regional, and state-wide teams. Having taught at private, charter, and public schools over her 11 years of teaching 2nd-8th grade as well as possessing a multiple subject, single subject science, and administrative credential, she is well versed in bringing environmental literacy to different subjects, grade levels, and types of educators. Having received training in design thinking from Stanford and PBL from the Buck Institute, she focuses on bringing more hands-on, phenomenon driven, integrated educational experiences to students across the state. Sarah’s goal is to meet educators where they are, help them identify goals that best align with their students’ or staffs’ needs, and support them in meeting those goals through a data-driven approach.

Polina Goncharova

Partnerships Programs Specialist

Polina is a passionate advocate for environmental literacy and education. Growing up in the East Bay, she split her time between Oakland and Castro Valley, where her love for animals and nature blossomed through visits to the Oakland Zoo and explorations of local natural spaces. Polina’s dedication to fostering a connection with the environment inspired her to incorporate outdoor learning and sustainability into her work as a teacher. As a former special and general education teacher in Washington, D.C., she emphasized environmental literacy and outdoor education in the general education space, recognizing their benefits for Social and Emotional Learning and language acquisition for multilingual learners. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Analysis from Pitzer College and a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. In her free time, Polina enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, reading, and spending time with family, friends, and her cats.

Partners

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Current Initiatives

Legacy Initiatives