NYC DOE’s Office of Sustainability: Organizational Systems, Strategy, & Vision

• In Event: Thinking global, educating local: sustainability education in New York City

Proposal

Founded in 2009, the DOE Office of Sustainability’s mission is to transform the DOE into a more sustainable and efficient public entity regarding facility operations and environmental education. A facet of the Division of School Facilities, the Office implements programs critical to achieve NYC’s goals of reducing carbon emissions, energy usage, and sending zero waste to landfills. Recognizing that the real power to achieve DOE’s ambitious greenhouse gas emissions and waste reduction goals lies with the 1.1 million students and school communities, the Office of Sustainability’s leads programming to bridge the connection between facility operations, building assets, and classroom instruction.
Given the vast scale of the organization, systematization of certain elements of sustainability are essential to make progress and impact; as such, DOE Sustainability drives educational opportunities and technical resources across all levels and stakeholders within the agency. By engaging both facility and pedagogical staff, as well as working with DOE Offices of STEM, Wellness, Career and Technical Education, and District 75 (citywide special education), the Office of Sustainability integrates programs into existing structures while also creating new education opportunities. Key programs include the development of NYC Solar Schools Education Program, specialized trainings for District 75 educators, integrating sustainability in to new elementary science standards in partnership with the Division of Teaching & Learning, and the development of the NYC DOE Sustainable Schools Certification program.

Author

• Meredith Mcdermott, Department of Education, New York City