Schools are turning their attention to energy conservation and renewable energy education as part of October Clean Energy Action Month. This annual White House-led observance urges learning more about “opportunities to address the climate crisis, and working together to mitigate climate change and achieve a healthier environment for all,” and it fits well with the growing demand over the last several years from students and parents alike for schools to spend more time teaching climate-related topics.

So how are school districts finding the funding and expertise to answer the call? Here’s a look at a few stories from across the country.

Local partnerships amp up student engagement

Students at Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) recently attended Green Summit, a symposium put on by the district to teach students about environmental challenges and green solutions. Active learning is a proven strategy when it comes to engaging students with sustainability and energy awareness topics. D11 maximized on this principal through hands on sessions with local experts on topics like energy production, clean water, waste diversion and clean jobs.

“I am hopeful that the insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and collaborative spirit that was showcased at the summit has left a lasting impact on all attendees," said John Berdon, Energy & Sustainability Manager at Colorado Springs D11.

The event featured workshops from organizations like Schneider Electric, Colorado Springs Utilities, Waste Connections, and Drive Clean Colorado. Local industry partners are a great resource to pull off special events like Green Summit. Providing more than just financial support, local partnerships create student engagement by displaying leaders who are working to make an impact directly in their community.

Direct exposure to local professionals working in the community is also an asset for STEAM career readiness curriculums. Schneider Electric has partnered with K-12 districts across the country to create custom career-connected learning opportunities, like this engineering job shadow program in Elizabeth, Colorado. These experiences give learners the opportunity to see professionals applying the skills they learn in the classroom firsthand, often on their own school campus. Seeing practical applications of what they are studying can ignite a newfound passion for engineering or energy, opening a world of potential career paths.

Boosting sustainable technology and STEAM learning opportunities

Schools should view facility improvement construction projects as a unique opportunity to add to the STEAM curriculum. Case in point: Gulf Shores City Schools was selected as a 2023 Green Ribbon School honoree in part for taking this approach during their recent $10.1 million district-wide infrastructure improvement project. Their ultimate vision was to boost sustainability in their facilities while simultaneously creating energy conservation and STEAM education opportunities.

The facility improvement initiative reduced the school system’s energy consumption by 33% and addressed core operational and occupant comfort upgrades. The district also found several opportunities within the project scope to tie in student programming. District campuses now feature interactive STEAM learning exhibits and sustainable technology displays, including:

• SmartFlower solar arrays that track the sun throughout the day
• Solar-powered trees that provide shade and boost aesthetics
• More solar-powered technology, including solar benches in playground, sporting areas and solar charging stations
• Interactive, touchscreen dashboards that show real-time data on energy produced, building temperatures, energy usage and more

Students will enjoy these exhibits as a key component of their curriculum for years to come, moving both technology and energy education beyond the walls of classroom and making it a tangible experience.

Gulf Shores City Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Akin had this to say about the project: "We're thrilled to partner with Schneider Electric to not only make much-needed upgrades to our buildings, but also to do it in an innovative way that boosts critically important STEAM learning while saving us money for future improvements."

Bring unique STEAM programs to your district

With the right collaboration, school districts are finding unique ways to give students hands-on experiences with clean energy year-round.

Schneider Electric is poised and ready to assist district leaders with creating engaging STEAM programming. We have worked with our clients to provide financial support and external education units, from solar car racing on Earth Day to robotics teams to mentoring opportunities. To learn more about how Schneider Electric works with school districts to create impactful STEAM education, visit our Student Engagement page.