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I am an Independent Study Teacher with Valley View Charter Prep, and I work with homeschooling families with students in grades TK-12. I also teach all-outdoor nature connection workshops & camps. I joined OTACA because I want to create a program to get OUSD kids into our urban forests to foster nature connection, investment in environmental issues, and overall well-being. I strongly believe that activism to address the climate and other environmental crises has to include a reinvigoration of our human connection with the natural world. Really looking forward to connecting with this amazing group of teachers!

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Greetings. I teach 3rd grade at Sequoia Elementary. When I was young (1960's), my Dad was a member of the Save the S.F. Bay Association and my parents took us to a recycling center to volunteer. We smashed cans with a homemade crusher: cement-filled Folger's can with a stick in the middle.
I grew up with a great respect for our environment and learned the value of protecting our natural resources.

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Share

1. Your Name - in the title

2. Where and what you teach

3. Why you’ve joined OTACA

4. What’s important to you

5. Some of your favorite things

6. Add a picture, voice recording or video - get creative!

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I'm a Resource Teacher at Oakland Tech HS. I joined OTACA to pair my work with students with my Environmentalist values. I'm a Bay Area native, I like to make art, read, travel, cycle, ski, hike, enjoy learning and play with my daughters. I'm also a proponent of Green Building techniques and organic foods.

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I am a 4/5 teacher at Grass Valley Elementary OUSD. My goal is to have my students become more aware of environmental issues that affect them and become leaders.

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I am a second grade teacher at Anthony Chabot Elementary, OUSD. I hope to join OTACA because I love science and think that children should to connect with our earth and feel empowered to learn and lead. I like to garden, hike, sing, and explore new places and things.

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I am a kindergarten dual immersion teacher at International Community School.
I joined OTACA because I think that climate justice is super important to young children and a natural entry point into science, social studies, and social justice teaching and learning.

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I'm a retired K-5 science prep teacher. I taught at RISE Community School. I'm working with the science Core Leadership Team and the Environmental and Climate Literacy Working Group, and I want to teach students about their connection to the natural world.

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I am a kindergarten teacher at International Community School.

I joined OTACA because I would like to introduce climate justice to students at an early age and I want to learn how to make them feel empowered rather than frightened.

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I'm a 9th grade bio and AP Bio teacher at Skyline.

I joined OTACA to support the 9th grade Gaia team's work to develop our sustainability-themed integrated project!

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Hi! I'm the tech teacher at Joaquin Miller Elementary and advisor for our Green Team and Ocean Guardian program. I'm interested in sharing ideas with folks around OUSD.

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I am a 9th grade teacher at Castlemont HS for the Sustainable Urban Energy which introduces students to climate change science and moves into renewable energy sources.

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I'm a 9th and 10th grade English teacher at Skyline High School. I joined OTACA to start working more intentionally with our students around climate action and it's intersections with everything else in the struggle. Looking forward to connecting with you all!

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I am a 4th grade teacher at Chabot Elementary for the past 16 years.  I joined OTACA as a colleague of mine sent me the information and I really enjoy collaborating with my colleagues, especially when it comes to science related topics.  We are looking at our earth's systems and balance of air, water, and soils, and how to futher that knowledge in our students.

My family runs a Christmas tree lot, so I have had a very busy month working 14 hour days with teaching and the lot!  This is my mother-in-law and I at the tree lot!

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Cleveland 2/3/4th graders lunchtime climate strike 2019

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I am the K-5 Science Teacher at Chabot Elementary.
Ive been involved with EJC for the past couple of years.
I joined OTACA because I think it is super important to educate but also inspire mates to want to make a difference and engage with the world around us.  Our planet has delicate systems/parts like air, water, and soils, there should be a basic or common understanding, even if you aren't a paid to know.
I love to hike, explore new places, camp, look for petrified wood, gardening, and investigate liquids and solids

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Hello! I teach 1st grade.
I joined OTACA because I've been involved with EJC and had been involved with OUSD Science for a long time as STL at Cleveland and Munck.
I hope to work with other elementary teachers on climate justice/advocacy.

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Hello! I teach 3rd grade at Cleveland Elementary.

I joined OTACA because I love creating lifelong environment enthusiasts in my classroom.

Along with another teacher, we have brought students to various outdoor field trips to appreciate the Earth. Additionally, I worked in informal education for a lab in Newport Beach during college. We went on a whale-watching tour and the students collected data that would later be analyzed by scientists.

Some of my favorite things include, cheese, my dogs and riding my Soulcycle bike.

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Hello! I teach 11th grade English and US History at Oakland Tech High School. I'm here because I want to advance climate action with other teachers. Our students care about the future health of the local and global climate, and I want to be a resource and a partner for them in envisioning and creating positive change. I'm excited to be a part of a local community pursuing this goal! As a history teacher, I'm looking for ways to integrate environmental history, a deeper understanding of the relationship between human societies and natural ecologies, into our curriculum.
At the moment, I love gardening, old union songs, and reading books with my 4-year-old.

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Selam (Peace in Amharic)
I teach Ethnic Studies 9th & World History 10th grade at Skyline High School. I'm excited to be a part of the Oakland Teachers Advancing Climate Action community because our planet is in desperate need of positive action! Doing our integrated project with our students and colleagues will enable all of us to be aware of our impact on the climate/environment.

I'm care about environmental justice, mentoring & empowering our youth both in & out of the classroom. Coaching Basketball & Track & Field has been my passion since both promote healthy living and fitness. My family & culture are important to me: PS I take my role as a new uncle very seriously:)

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Yo! I teach Ancient Civ, Medieval, and US History to 6th-8th graders at Hillcrest. I studied urban policy & environmental racism globally and locally. I care a lot about food justice... I worked at several farmer's markets in the Bronx and Brooklyn many years back. And I think a lot about the interconnectedness of all living beings and the intersection of health, nature, race, community, and education. That is why I joined OTACA. I love music (my spotify top songs of 2020 is on point!), building relationships, and creating new experiences.

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I teach Physics of Energy Science in the Green Energy Pathway at Skyline High School. This is also the 11th grade CTE class. I joined OTACA because it will provide me the opportunity to collaborate with my  colleagues to create an integrated project that will help to provide some vital information about green buildings in Oakland and some social and environment justice issues that may be associated with this.

My students' personal, academic and future success is very important to me. I am committed to providing my students the knowledge, opportunities, tools, and resources that they will need to succeed in life.

I love my daughter! I love watching movies, warriors basketball, traveling and cooking.

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Hi! I teach the 12th grade graduate capstone at Oakland Tech. I'm in the Health Academy, so my students are writing about real issues that impact health. I'm always looking for projects that will allow students to create a lasting impact with their senior papers. Climate change is going to be a driver of serious health impacts for communities globally and locally, so I want to give students some tools to fight this catastrophe. I love documentaries, fostering dogs, and biking. Below is the virtual graduation Jib Jab that I made with my kids last year. (I feel so sad for my students missing out on all of their graduation milestones:(

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I teach Sustainable Systems which is the Senior CTE class in the Green Energy Pathway at Skyline High School.

I joined OTACA to help find out more about opportunities for my students to engage in meaningful environmental projects in Oakland. I also really love spending time with other teachers who care about environmental education.

Creating educational opportunities that are empowering to all students is important for me, working out how to get the students who wouldn't usually jump at a chance to do something outside of class to get passionate and excited about something.

Right now (and hopefully for a long time to come....!) my favorite thing is my 10 month old baby, Orin. I'm especially enjoying preparing food for him and seeing what new things he likes.

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Kate Stepanski here, I teach Spanish 1 at Oakland Tech.  For Tutorials I have been teaching Coding & Cryptography and Arte y Comida.  My Advisory class is volunteering with The Rose Foundation on what we are calling The WOAK Urban Forest Project.  Students are raising seedlings to eventually plant in West Oakland.  I joined OTACA with a desire to teach relevant lessons that can make the world a healthier place.  I'm fascinated with space trash and am hoping that I can spend more time researching that as a part of this project.  My spare time is spent with my daughter, writing poetry, and gardening.

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Kate Stepanski here, I teach Spanish 1 at Oakland Tech.  For Tutorials I have been teaching Coding & Cryptography and Arte y Comida.  My Advisory class is volunteering with The Rose Foundation on what we are calling The WOAK Urban Forest Project.  Students are raising seedlings to eventually plant in West Oakland.  I joined OTACA with a desire to teach relevant lessons that can make the world a healthier place.  I'm fascinated with space trash and am hoping that I can spend more time researching that as a part of this project.  My spare time is spent with my daughter, writing poetry, and gardening.

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Hi! I teach ELA 10 and a section of Student Reporting Labs at OMI. I joined because I love seeing students becoming active citizens. It was amazing to attend the Global Climate Strike with students last year. Climate and Education justice are very important to me. I want to see our Oakland students change the world as the next lawmakers and leaders. I love houseplants, redwood hikes, and checking out banana slugs with my two little ones. I love to nerd out on random things. like orcas. or caterpillars.

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Hi! My name is Ethan. I teach Physiology and Physiology SEI at Fremont High School. I joined OTACA to connect with other OUSD science teachers. I am interested in creating physiology units which have phenomena related to Climate Change literacy and Environmental Justice. Some of my favorite things are Sour Patch Kids, playing soccer, spending time with my friends and family, the Office, Avatar the Last Airbender, and whales.

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Hello everyone! I am lucky enough to teach at Life Academy, where I'm teaching 8th grade science this year for the first time after teaching high school for many years. I've joined OTACA because I believe that climate change is THE issue that our students will face in the future (as we are already seeing big glimpses of). I do love hiking, especially among the Redwoods, as well as travel (so much for that this year!), and my family... I have a 6 year old daughter who gives me joy every day.

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Hi! My name is Helen. I am currently a PhD student at UCB, studying air quality in the bay area. Before that, I taught HS Physics and Chemistry at Pittsburg High School (though I've lived in Oakland since 2012). When I was teaching, I always wanted to find more ways to incorporate climate change and environmental justice concepts into what I did, but needed some thought partners. I met a bunch of OUSD teachers through the Sierra Club and found it so exciting to have others to talk about Climate Change literacy with. I love running and gardening and (honestly) all three of the new Star Trek shows. :-)

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Hi, my name is Josh. I am a teacher at Greenleaf tk-8. I teach Math and Science for 6th grade. I joined OTACA to try and link up with other OUSD science teachers at other sites to create a Environmental Justice Unit. To me it is very important that we teach the standards in a way that resonates with the students and makes them feel empowered to better understand and become change makers within their community. I love baking bread, watching DIY Tik Tok videos and riding my bicycle!

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Hello!  I'm Noah and I teach 6th, 7th, & 8th grade Science at Hillcrest K8.  I joined OTACA because fighting climate change and social injustice feels right in my heart.  It's scary, yet empowering.  And it's hard, but it's vital.  Some of my current, or not-so-current, favorite things are eating excellent food, chigirie (Japanese a paper-tearing art), continuing to learn how to grow things... successfully, and professional wrestling.

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Hi my name is Joe Senn (joseph.senn@ousd.org).  I teach students at Oakland Technical High School AP Environmental Science and Physiology.  I joined OTACA to connect with you! Also to learn from each other and inspire ourselves and students.  I spend an unusually large amount of time thinking about how to empower positive change in our student's lives. Currently my favorite things are: late night satirical news shows, learning on TikTok, and  balancing exercising and need to intermittent fast >_<  Thank you for reading my words - attached is picture of me in my natural setting o_0

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Hi! I'm a retired elementary teacher. I taught grades 1-5 at Kaiser for 22 years. I helped write the OTACA grant because I want to support teachers and students in approaching this difficult topic, and give teachers the opportunity to work together to figure this out. Some of my favorite things are being in nature  hiking & birding, playing music, doing art.