Spotlight on Success: Teacher Stories
The Generation Earth program continues to inspire middle and high school students to become engaged in their communities by participating in environmental service projects on their school campuses and in their communities. The program provides professional development for teachers, supporting them in bringing environmental service learning into the classroom. The following spotlight stories highlight educators who combine their own commitment with Generation Earth's approach to successfully engage Los Angeles County youth.
Andy Stephens
California Academy for Liberal Studies Early College High School
The Physics and AP Environmental Science classes taught by Mr. Andy Stephens are some of the most popular at his school's downtown campus. He provides his students at California Academy for Liberal Studies (CALS) Early College High School opportunities in and out of the classroom that reflect creativity, passion, and leadership. After attending the December 2007 Professional Development Workshop, Andy immediately went to work using Generation Earth's tool box.
Mr. Stephens' students performed both an energy and waste audit at his school's campus and soon thereafter CALS first eco-club emerged. They call themselves the 'Mean Green Team'. After realizing that over 50% of the disposed items on the CALS campus are recyclable, Mr. Stephens' students turned their focus towards creating and running a top notch recycling program.
Mr. Stephens facilitated several field trips for his students, the first of which was the Puente Hills Landfill tour to find out where all the disposed recycling was going. In addition, his students worked with Heal the Bay in the Santa Monica Mountains removing illegally dumped items from streams and went camping in Yosemite National Park. Mr. Stephens also led a three school effort to cleanup the Arroyo Seco on Cesar Chavez Community Service Day.
The effects of Mr. Stephens' efforts with his students and school came together when they entered the 2008 Battle of the Schools Recycling Competition. CALS Early College High School took home first place among all competing high schools and represented County Supervisoral District One at the recognition and commendation ceremony held at a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting that fall. This year, Mr. Stephens' intent is to work with his students in tracing the waste stream incorporating more community partners along the way. Mr. Stephen's dedication to his students and the passion with which he pursues opportunities demonstrate the value of pairing local teachers with the resources and knowledge that Generation Earth offers to each of its teachers.
