Green Schools Corps

The San Francisco Unified School District is working on several initiatives that are striving to build a more eco- and food-literate student population, increasing the energy efficiency of its schools’ infrastructure, decreasing schools’ waste streams, and building community and advancing outdoor education opportunities through the development and stewardship of green schoolyards and school gardens. The San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance and the SFUSD Sustainability Department are working together to promote these goals through the Green Schools Corps Project. The project will promote academic performance through rigorous, project-based, partner-supported environmental education that is woven throughout the school’s instruction and operation. Green Schools Corps Members will focus on teaching the principles of ecology, introducing students to conservation practices, and developing an appreciation for the natural world. The GSC member will serve as the point person for all environmental activities at each school. This year's Green Schools Corps Members are...

Elizabeth Reiff at E.R. Taylor Elementary: Elizabeth first saw broccoli growing out of the soil at the age of 23. From that point forward, she has sought to be involved in growing plants for both food security and habitat restoration purposes. Elizabeth has been working in the outdoor and environmental education fields for five years, teaching and leading trips with various Bay Area organizations like Girlventures, Aim High, Tree Frog Treks, and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. She has taught, as well as participated in relief work, in New Orleans and El Salvador. Elizabeth graduated from San Francisco State University with a BS in Environmental Studies and Natural Resource Management and Conservation. When she is not in the outdoor classroom with students, Elizabeth is probably riding her bicycle while playing the ukulele.

Kelly Nichols at Hillcrest Elementary: Originally from New England, Kelly is going to miss the snowy winters and maple syrup of home, but is excited to explore all the beauty California has to offer. Kelly graduated from Brown University in 2009 with a degree in Environmental Studies. During college she worked as an environmental educator in both Oregon and Alaska, and was active with several social justice groups in the city of Providence, RI. In the two years since graduation, she has immersed herself in the world of sustainable agriculture and food justice, working at an urban herb garden in Providence, an organic homestead in Ireland, and a 12-acre vegetable farm in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Kelly is excited to be back in the urban environment of San Francisco and is passionate about connecting environmental justice, urban agriculture, and ecological awareness through place-based education.

Nicky Bloom at Fairmount Elementary: Nicky spent her last year in the western foothills of the Sierras helping teach place-based, experiential environmental science at a residential high school called the Woolman Semester. There, she also helped cultivate a one-acre organic vegetable farm that sent all its produce straight to the school dining hall to be cooked up into tasty dishes for the program participants. Garden building projects—chicken coops and tables and gathering benches—have been her passion ever since she spent six months playing with power tools while rebuilding homes in New Orleans. Nicky graduated in 2009 with degrees in Environmental Science and Romance Languages from Carleton College. As an aspiring architect and builder of green schools, Nicky is looking forward to learning more about how the physical design of a school and its outdoor space can best facilitate inspired and engaged learning.

Athena Barouxis at Sanchez Elementary: Athena came to the Bay Area 11 years ago from rural Vermont. Since then, she has been working with youth in various capacities as a pre-school teacher, nanny, after-school instructor, and garden coordinator. She has worked at Sanchez Elementary School in the school garden for the past year and has developed the garden into a thriving program. She graduated from San Francisco State with a BS in Health Education. This schooling, combined with a life-long interest in gardening and ecology, has led her to the field of environmental education. In her spare time, Athena likes to check out the numerous Bay Area natural areas with her dog.

For more information, please contact Rachel Pringle, Director of Programs, at rachel AT sfgreenschools dot org.