FLC offers summer curriculum project

Local kindergarten through 12th grade teachers — regardless of subject or grade level — are invited to participate in a summer 2012 workshop that will enhance teaching and help engage students with environmental and sustainability issues.

Sunday, April 15 is the application deadline for the workshop, which is based on the Piedmont Project developed at Emory University.

Having trained with the leaders of the Piedmont Project, Folsom Lake College biology professors Mike Denega and Dr. Steven Holzberg have adapted the workshop for K-12 faculty and will be offering it to successful applicants during the 2012 summer at Folsom Lake College, El Dorado Center in Placerville.

As part of this program, teachers will also learn about related local Career Technical Education certificate and degree programs available to students at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

Through funding made available by the state as part of the Governor’s Career Technical Education Initiative (SB 70), 24 selected participants will receive an honorarium of $750 to participate in the workshop. More importantly, they will have opportunities to extend their teaching horizons across disciplines and create new networks with teaching colleagues.

Interested applicants should submit their contact information (e-mail, phone number), school name, grade level(s) and subject(s) taught, and a 1⁄2 to one page description of why they are interested in incorporating issues of global and/or local sustainability into their work as an educator.

Applications should be submitted within the body of an e-mail (as opposed to an attachment) to Dr. Steven Holzberg at holzbes@flc.losrios.edu.

Strong preference will be given to K-12 teachers from El Dorado County who did not attend last year’s workshop.

The Piedmont Project has drawn national attention for its innovative approach to incorporating environmental and sustainability concepts into a wide variety of curricula at the college level (see emory.edu/college/scienceandsociety/piedmont.htm).

The workshops will be held June 12, 13, and 22 at Folsom Lake College, El Dorado Center, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville.

A member of the Los Rios Community College District, Folsom Lake College serves approximately 9,000 students at the main Folsom campus, El Dorado Center and Rancho Cordova Center.

For more information on Folsom Lake College visit flc.losrios.edu.