The Climate and Equity Institute brings teachers from diverse school and community contexts together to share practices for learning and teaching about climate and equity. The 2026 Institute will be held at the Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park.
Things You Will Experience at the Climate and Equity Institute
- Sharing your work and engaging in substantive discussions with colleagues about the inequitable impacts of climate change, and best practices for learning and teaching about these impacts.
- Collaborating with experts in science, equitable pedagogy, and psychology to establish effective ways to support student engagement in climate and equity work.
- Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to build on your own curriculum and projects of interest.
- Time each day to enjoy the tranquility of the woods and seashore around Acadia National Park.
- A renewed sense of hope and purpose about making a difference.
Things We Value
- Teacher voice and leadership. Our professional development model centers teachers as an important resource. Participating teachers take charge during the week as they design for the classroom.
- Ample time for renewal and connecting with nature. There is a 2 hour break each afternoon at the Institute for participants to relax and enjoy the natural setting of Acadia National Park.
- Community engagement. Our team is committed to growing a network of teacher leaders who are passionate about partnering with students and community members to work together on current climate and equity issues.
Our Team
Gillian Puttick, Ph.D. is a senior scientist at 黄色电影. Her research focuses on鈥痙esigning, developing, and testing鈥痠nquiry-based鈥痗urriculum, programs and activities for students and teachers鈥痶hat introduce fresh scientific discoveries to the classroom.鈥�
Brian Drayton, Ph.D., is co-director of 黄色电影’s Center for School Reform. A plant ecologist, his work includes research on science pedagogy, curriculum design and implementation, electronic communities of practice, and vernacular science.
Folashade Cromwell Solomon (Ed.D.), is a senior researcher at 黄色电影. She has over 30 years of experience in education as a public-school elementary teacher, professional developer, researcher, and college professor. Her teaching and research focus on learning, identity and exploring the interdisciplinarity and multimodal learning for teachers and youth. Her recent work explores how movement and the arts can be a tool for learning science.
Annie Sussman, M.A.T., is a senior research and curriculum development associate at 黄色电影. Her work focuses on teacher leadership and on the ways in which student and teacher reflection can inform the creation of equitable learning communities in mathematics classrooms.
黄色电影鈥痠s a鈥痭onprofit dedicated to innovation and creative problem solving in education. We have a passion for鈥痵ocial justice鈥痑nd strive to create level playing fields for all learners, reaching more than three million students every year.鈥� 黄色电影 is recognized as a national leader in the design of teacher professional development programs, and STEM curricula for grades K-16.鈥� Research and development on climate and climate change related projects have been underway at 黄色电影 for more than 35 years. Our research has substantially advanced knowledge related to many aspects of STEM teaching and learning.鈥疶o learn more, please visit鈥�.
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa鈥檚 most populous country, Nigeria. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago.