The Gunston School is pleased to announce the release of an innovative and comprehensive Environmental Strategic Plan.
Two years ago, building on the Gunston’s two-decade history of environmental education innovation, the school’s Strategic Planning Committee set an ambitious goal for the school: to become a regional and national leader in environmental teaching and learning. In response to this relevant and worthy goal, the school commenced a comprehensive, 12-month environmental strategic planning process with the aim of producing a school-wide Environmental Strategic Plan (ESP). In January, the plan was presented to and adopted by the Board of Trustees, and the school now begins the process of implementing the plan’s recommendations.
The plan itself focuses on curriculum development, the environmental sustainability of the school’s physical plant, the cultivation of community partnerships, and the development of new programs. Gunston’s Headmaster John Lewis says, “Environmental sustainability is a central challenge facing humanity, and it is the current generation of students who will be leading the efforts to address this challenge. Therefore, at Gunston we are moving the theme of sustainability into the center of our curricular efforts, and this Environmental Strategic Plan is the roadmap for these efforts. We are confident that the plan will have a transformative effect on our school and our students, and we also hope the plan will serve as a model for other schools to emulate.”
In addition to serving as an institutional roadmap for Gunston, the plan aims to serve as a model for peer schools across the region and the nation as they consider how to develop and implement the priority of environmental sustainability into their daily work. Most recently, Gunston has developed a partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to offer professional learning opportunities for teachers and school leaders.
The Gunston School’s efforts would not be possible without a diverse array of partners. Each year the school actively seeks out new partnerships with mission-driven organizations looking to expand their scope of work and engage with student and faculty leaders. Gunston is especially interested in expanding its cross-cultural and global partnership network, as well as engaging with partners who can enrich the school’s 21st century learning efforts. Prospective partners are encouraged to reach out to our Sustainability Coordinator, Emily Beck, for more information.
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