Ulster BOCES Educator Edge Will Host Sustainable Futures Summit on Earth Day 2024

New Paltz, NY (November 14, 2023) — The Ulster Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), a leader in innovative educational services delivery, will host the Sustainable Futures Summit 2024, a forward-thinking educational event promoting sustainability, environmental consciousness, and innovative solutions from students and teachers.

Sponsored by World Savvy, a national K-12 educational nonprofit partnering with schools to create inclusive and future-ready learning environments, the summit will provide a platform for students to showcase their research, inventions, and initiatives addressing environmental and social issues. Participating students will have the opportunity to engage with experts through presentations, exhibitions, workshops, and interactive activities to foster creative solutions to global challenges.

To ignite students’ and teachers’ passion for environmental advocacy and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to co-create a sustainable future, Ulster BOCES is offering three virtual prep to summit attendees. While participation in these courses is not required to attend the Sustainable Futures Summit 2024, they each offer valuable insights and resources to enhance educators’ experience at the event. 

Prep sessions are available in November, December, and January. The first two prep sessions are open to both teachers and students and include collaborative opportunities focused on:

• Project-based learning;
• Inter-generational dialog;
• Inquiry;
• The opportunity for students to learn with and from one another how to address important issues such as education, climate change, ocean health, and equality; and
• Professional learning and resources for teachers to support the creation and facilitation of “knowledge to action” projects.

In the January prep session, which is just for teachers, participants will explore how to design and facilitate a knowledge to action process that:

• Centers the interests of their students;
• Develops essential skills and dispositions; and
• Prepares their students to share what they have learned at the Sustainable Futures Summit 2024.

“It’s a privilege to bring together educators and students to focus on the problem-solving strategies and skills they need to address existential threats such as climate change,” said Jonah Schenker, Ed.D., superintendent of Ulster BOCES. “I look forward to seeing what innovative solutions arise from the uniquely inspirational atmosphere of an in-person meeting of engaged teachers and students.” 

The Sustainable Futures Summit will be held on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, from 8 AM to 3:30 PM at Vassar College. Each paid adult registration includes admission for up to six students, with refreshments and lunch provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops.

“To thrive in a changing world, students need to learn global competencies such as collaboration, critical thinking through an inquiry-based lens, and empathy,” said Dana Mortenson, CEO of World Savvy. “Gathering with their peers to address pressing issues puts students in charge of their own learning and builds not only their skills, but their sense of themselves and their community.”

To learn more or register for the summit, visit UlsterBOCES.org.

About Ulster BOCES

At Ulster BOCES, our mission is to provide high-quality shared educational, administrative, and technical services that enable component districts to develop the capacity in their students and adults to achieve higher standards of performance. With an emphasis on economic efficiencies, Ulster BOCES is committed to offering educational programs that enable all students to prepare for employment and/or post-secondary education. Ulster BOCES serves the eight public school districts in Ulster County, so our programs benefit almost every student, teacher, administrator, business, and taxpayer in Ulster County. For more information, visit UlsterBOCES.org.

Press contact:
Jacob Hanson
Jacob@PRP.group
(970) 560-0856