Elena's Leadership Journey: A Timeline of Milestones by Elena Jinzo

1993-2024: Teaching Requires Leadership

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 10:49:39 UTC

At age 25, I began teaching. During my first 21 years, I taught middle school. I helped students launch clubs, paint murals, and create a native plant garden. Years later, I chose to switch schools to teach fifth grade. I wanted an opportunity to teach PBL and interdisciplinary units. I joined the ILT and the School Site Council in my new school. I have enjoyed leading both students and colleagues over the years.

2001-2003: BTSA, New Teacher Advisor

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 10:49:39 UTC

In 2001, I was invited to apply as a new teacher advisor. I was excited to be encouraged to apply and proud to work with a fantastic team of experienced educators helping teachers during their first one to two years in the classroom. I enjoyed being a support to new teachers very much.

In fact, I returned to this work two more times: 2006-2009, and 2015-2016.

2004-2015: ALMS - Garden Club Advisor

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 10:49:39 UTC

In this role, I worked with Middle School students and community volunteers to design, create, and install a new garden at our middle school. The opportunity to work together and outside formed new connections between students and between students and staff that helped develop essential relationships. The involved students ranged from our class of Newcomers to students who joined from Leadership and our advanced Math and Science classes. New friendships were formed. By the end of the third year, one of our Newcomer students earned the highest honors at eighth-grade graduation.

2034: TED Talk on 'Leadership for Environmental Change'

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 10:49:39 UTC

In ten years, after working to green many schools, I will be invited to deliver a powerful TED Talk on leveraging leadership for environmental change. This talk will go viral and establish me as an inspiration and a changemaker.

Teachers across the country will be inspired by what has already been accomplished. Organizations like "Kiss the Ground" will receive the full attention and investment they deserve. Farm organizations will collaborate with school districts to better provide organic food for elementary school children. Politicians will reduce the red tape that prevents districts from investing in solar energy or establishing their own farm-to-table gardens.

Perhaps this may sound impossible, but any movement ever started began at one time as just a dream.

2019: The Dirty Truth, a Blue Apple Project

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 11:09:58 UTC

In August 2019, a teacher friend of mine let me know that an organization called the Blue Apple Projects was working with teachers to design Project-Based Learning units for students with an environmental theme. I was excited to speak with them as I had been working to create my own unit, having students compare the soil on Earth to the regolith on Mars. Working together on this project taught me the value of teamwork and the skills of leading from behind. The final project, "The Dirty Truth," is something I am very proud to have been a part of creating.

2019: Soil Advocate Training - Kiss the Ground

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 11:10:40 UTC

By 2019, I had decided I wanted to be more involved in making change in our world, and I wanted to learn to be an advocate. When I discovered "Kiss the Ground," I knew I had found a group of people who cared as much about both soil and the future as I did. Learning about their mission to educate and motivate individuals and businesses to embrace change made me want to be part of that movement. As I participated in their advocate training, I developed a new confidence in my ability to make a difference. I led presentations in my community to promote our city garden and composting; at school, I became a voice for conservation. This training empowered me!

2015-Present: The Skyline Garden

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 11:14:04 UTC

Starting about nine years ago, I began advocating for a garden space at my school. We ran into many roadblocks along the way. Our original garden space had to be abandoned entirely as our school needed to replace a natural gas main directly through our garden space. Later, we were sent home for a year due to COVID-19, but the PTA, myself, and our Principal never gave up. And so, in 2022, we began installing a new 10K square foot garden at our school campus. I lead this mission. I designed the footprint and arranged for community work days. I established a connection with Hands-on Bay Area, which brought over 200 volunteers from Genentech to help us install the grass, pavers, and basic hardscapes for the garden. Since that time, we have added a bird and butterfly garden and raised beds for all grade levels. We still have a lot to do, but now this garden is a part of our school and the experiences of every student on campus.

2028: Helping to Turn Schools Green

ejinzo1 — 2024-09-05 11:23:17 UTC

I will retire in 2028, but when I retire, I plan to devote myself entirely to helping to turn more schools green. I hope to work within my own district, SSFUSD, at first to bring more outdoor green spaces to children. Beyond that, I hope to work to improve the use of energy and resources at each of the schools where I form connections. As a retired teacher, I hope to bring my experience with me to help me establish relationships with administrators and staff in a way that empowers them to believe that they, too, can make change.