By Elisabeth Hanrieder, assistant principal, Oxnard High School
When we talk about “school climate,” we usually mean school culture and connectedness; however, lately it has taken on a much more literal meaning. Rising temperatures, water scarcity, wildfire smoke, and extreme weather are no longer abstractions. They’re the new normal for our California schools. As educators and leaders, we have a responsibility to prepare both our facilities and our students for the realities of climate change.
At Oxnard High School, that preparation is both practical and deeply inspiring. From our Environmental Science curriculum and Green Technologies Academy, to our district’s push toward clean energy and outdoor learning environments, we’re discovering how sustainability work reduces our carbon footprint and strengthens our community.
Climate Literacy Starts in the Classroom
For many of our students, climate change can seem extremely abstract. It’s something happening somewhere else, to someone else. But when a student walks to school in 90-degree weather in April, or when we call a “smoke day” due to wildfire haze, the message is clear: climate change is here, it’s now, and it’s personal.
That’s why we’ve worked hard to embed environmental science into our curriculum. Teachers in the Green Technologies Academy create cross-curricular lessons with real-world applications, including creating green spaces on campus, advocating for change at the local level, working on projects that will help them earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement, and helping us become an official California Green Ribbon School. Students learn about careers in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and environmental engineering. The result is that students see themselves as agents of change. They’re not just learning about the environment; they’re doing something about it. And they’re also having a lot of fun.
The Green Technologies Academy: Innovation in Action
The Green Technologies Academy (GTECH) is the heartbeat of Oxnard High School’s sustainability work. Established with a focus on careers in environmental sustainability, GTECH bridges the gap between science education and industry innovation. Students explore everything from solar design to waste management to sustainable construction.
But what makes GTECH special is its culture of collaboration. As a relatively new assistant principal and the lead author of our California Green Ribbon School’s application, I quickly learned that the academy lead, Jan Quilantang, was going to be “my person.” She’s the colleague who shares the passion, vision, and perseverance to make big green goals happen. And she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and simply get things done. I mean, it’s one thing to teach the students about photosynthesis. It’s a whole other thing to get outside with them and shovel several metric tons of compost and mulch. She’s THAT teacher, and I love her for it.
Your person doesn’t need to teach Environmental Science or Green Technologies. Your person just needs to share your vision to green your campus and spend some time outside with the kids, learning about plants and the critters they attract.
The Green Ribbon Journey: More than a Plaque
Applying for the California Green Ribbon Schools Recognition provided an opportunity for learning and growth. The application process forced all of us to take a hard look at every aspect of our operations, including waste reduction, transportation, curriculum, and grounds. We looked at utility bills, the chemicals we use for cleaning, and how we support our students’ and staff socio-emotional well-being.
I quickly realized that this wasn’t a paperwork exercise. It was an opportunity for us to tell our story in the three key pillars:
- Reducing environmental impact and costs;
- Improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and
- Providing effective environmental and sustainability education.
In order to address all three pillars, I became a detective, tracking down data from the district office, getting intel from nutrition services, and sussing out what, if anything, we are doing to address environmental literacy and climate change with our students and staff. I learned how our district bond funds were being used to modernize HVAC systems and repair and replace solar panels. I discovered that Farm2School wasn’t just growing fruits and vegetables, but that they were also sourcing produce from local growers, teaching students where their food comes from (fun fact: it’s not a bag!) and working with our cafeterias to create delicious meals.
And most importantly, I saw how all these pieces connected.
When you start connecting curriculum, operations, and culture under one sustainability umbrella, you realize that Green Schools aren’t just about energy audits or recycling bins. They’re about systems thinking — understanding that every decision, from what we plant to what we teach, contributes to a larger ecosystem of change. What good is planting native plants if groundskeepers pull them out when they go dormant? What good is it to provide fidget spinners to kids who are treating their bodies like a motel room, hitting the first vape upon waking and eating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos during first period? And what good is providing environmental literacy only for advanced placement students? We needed a unified plan of action, a systematic approach to health and wellness, and more saturation for the education component.
Writing that application strengthened relationships across our district. I learned the language of facilities staff, listened to teachers’ creative ideas, and found allies in unexpected places. Inspired by former principal Richard Urias, now the district’s CBO, Jan’s students designed a park-like green space by our outdoor amphitheater. Students met with our campus SRO and lead groundskeeper to discuss the limitations to the plan, including safety concerns, and they worked with a fictional budget of $5,000. Working with CAD, students designed their plans in groups and presented plans to a panel that included the principal, district director of maintenance and facilities, lead groundskeeper, SRO, three teachers, three students, and three parents. The winning group got $500 dollars toward their project. We included this green space assignment in our application, and by the time we submitted the application, it didn’t feel like a report — it felt like a community portfolio.
Beyond the Green – the Silver Award, the Gold Award, and Becoming Inspirational
We earned a silver award in 2023. Mr. Urias asked us to present to a board meeting, and our students were amazing. We basked for a moment in the glory. But what happened next was even more powerful. We scheduled virtual feedback time with George Garcia, who heads the California Green Ribbon Awards program. He shared with us what went well and what could be improved for next time. We met with him a few more times that year, once at Educating for Careers, once at the Green Summit. Each time it was like a celebrity sighting. The man wears a green bow-tie, and he is absolutely passionate about the program. He is helpful in the most delightful way, and his enthusiasm will change your life.
We got a new principal, who basically let me do whatever I want. (Shoutout to Dr. Ted Lawrence, whose three hashtags are “Be Impactful. Build Resilience. And Be Legendary.” He is all three of those things, and I appreciate him so much). In 2024, we earned the gold. In 2025, we had inspired four other schools in the district to apply for the award, and three of them earned silver. We got the gold again, still striving for the elusive national recognition. This year, I’m writing an application for the district.
At Oxnard High School, we continue to plant salvias and sages. We watch hummingbird wars in our green spaces as monarch butterflies flit around the flowering nectar plants our students planted last spring. The kids seem happier and more relaxed. The adults, too, feel the difference. The district is planning to use Measure E funds to build outdoor campuses and provide green spaces on campus. Our latest garden effort cost $250 after a donation of plants from a parent and free mulch from Agromin. Jan and her husband Arnold shoveled mulch into a bed newly planted by GTECH students. I would also like to gently point out that these students are people under the age of 18 who willingly put their phones in their pockets (I promised to take pics) and planted actual plants. Outside. And (bonus!) they lived to tell the tale on social media.
Practical Tips for Schools Going Green
1. Start with What You Have
Look for existing programs or partnerships that already support sustainability. Maybe your cafeteria sources local produce, or your custodial team is using eco-friendly cleaning products. Maybe your district, like ours, took advantage of incentives to rent solar panels and staff Wellness Centers.
2. Engage Students Early and Often
Kids are natural problem-solvers. Let them design, build, and maintain parts of your sustainability projects. It’s a win-win: they gain authentic learning experiences, and you gain passionate advocates. We planted a native memorial garden for a beloved teacher, Robert Borneman. The students designed the garden and planted it. Later in the year, we planned a ribbon-cutting event and memorial service. We invited former students and the teacher’s family. Culinary Arts students made the hors devours and drinks, the band played the teachers favorite music, the art students hosted a table where students and colleagues could write messages to hang from ribbons in the trees, and our film students filmed the event for loved ones. It was a meaningful and hauntingly beautiful event that cost virtually nothing. The garden itself is thriving.
3. Find Your Person
Don’t underestimate the power of one like-minded colleague. A teacher, a facilities lead, or a student leader can help you start a small project, keep momentum and creativity alive when bureaucracy gets in the way. I started with one, and I now have an entire community of people who keep these projects alive. I am so grateful to them for all they do for our students and our school.
4. Partner Outside the School Gates
Reach out to local farms, waste management companies, or environmental nonprofits. We partnered with Green Valley Project, who had a grant to green up some local spaces. We opened up the opportunity to all students in the district, who planted a space near a Girl Scout Camp in Ojai. We were rewarded with two free baby oaks, and a nice guy came out to help our students plant them. These oaks, which the kids named (I regret that I can’t actually remember the trees’ names), are still alive, though Dr. Lawrence refers to them as my rose bushes because they’re so tiny. I like to think that someday, long after I’ve retired, someone will wonder who decided to plant those random oak trees on a campus full of evergreen magnolias and camphor trees. I like to imagine a future Oxnard High School full of plants and wildlife I helped foster.
5. Document Everything
If you plan to apply for recognition programs like California Green Ribbon Schools, keep detailed records: photos, data, and testimonials. You’ll need them, and they also make great storytelling tools for your school community. Don’t worry if your application isn’t complete. I’ll let you in on a little secret: we applied for a Green Ribbon Schools Award in 2022, as well. I think we earned a 37%. It was okay. We lived. And we went on to earn a silver and two golds. We inspired other schools. We inspired our district. And most importantly, we inspired a lot of kids to go out and do great things for the environment.
6. Celebrate the Wins
Every garden planted, every watt saved, every student engaged, every teacher who smiles at the hummingbirds… it all counts. Host ribbon-cuttings, post updates on social media, and invite the community to see the results. Sustainability thrives on visibility.
Looking Forward
As we continue our Green Schools journey, we’re setting our sights on larger goals: updating our solar energy production to reduce usage, integrating climate resilience into our emergency planning, and supporting district-wide composting.
But more than that, we’re nurturing a culture – one where students see sustainability as a way of life. We’re preparing our students for a future shaped by climate change, but we’re also empowering them to shape that future for the better.
