Employee Training

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Ideas & Resources

Educating school employees—including faculty, office staff, groundskeepers, and other personnel—is a critical step in building a culture of sustainability. This START metric focuses on equipping employees with the knowledge and skills to implement sustainability practices, understand environmental and social standards, and contribute to a more sustainable school community. By fostering awareness and empowerment at all levels, schools can ensure that sustainability becomes a shared responsibility.

Employee training not only enhances operational efficiency and environmental performance but also strengthens staff engagement and alignment with the school’s values. It’s an investment in both the people who make the school run and the planet we share.

Strategies for Implementing Employee Sustainability Training

NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it is intended to inspire ideas and provide examples that can be adapted to meet the unique needs and circumstances of each school community.

Integrate Sustainability into Orientation Programs
- Include sustainability policies, goals, and expectations as part of the onboarding process for new employees.
- Provide an overview of the school’s sustainability initiatives and how staff can contribute.
Host Regular Sustainability Workshops
- Offer workshops tailored to different roles, such as sustainable teaching practices for faculty or waste management for grounds staff.
- Partner with local sustainability experts or organizations to provide specialized training.
Develop Role-Specific Training
- Provide custodial staff with training on green cleaning practices and energy-efficient building management.
- Train office staff on sustainable procurement practices, such as choosing eco-friendly suppliers.
Encourage Peer-to-Peer Learning
- Create "Sustainability Champions" within the school staff who can mentor and support their colleagues.
- Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration to share best practices and ideas.

Incorporate Sustainability into Professional Development Days
- Dedicate part of annual professional development schedules to sustainability education and planning.
- Use interactive sessions, such as group activities or simulations, to make training engaging and practical.
Conduct Sustainability Audits with Staff Involvement
- Involve employees in identifying areas for improvement in their own departments.
- Use these audits as teaching opportunities to highlight key sustainability practices.
Recognize and Reward Sustainability Efforts
- Offer incentives or recognition for staff who demonstrate leadership in sustainability initiatives.
- Create an annual award for innovative sustainability projects led by employees.
Use Real-Life Examples
- Showcase successful sustainability initiatives within the school or other institutions to inspire action.
- Highlight the impact of individual actions, such as reducing energy use or minimizing waste.
Measure and Share Progress
- Provide updates on the school’s sustainability efforts and metrics, showing how staff contributions make a difference.
- Use newsletters, staff meetings, or an online portal to keep employees informed and motivated.

‘How To’ Guides

How to Educate your Staff about the Impact of their Food Choices

From the Educated Choices Program, free video presentations, lessons, quizzes and additional resources to educated staff about the environmental impact of their food choices.

Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.

They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.

Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.

But how do we get there?

START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.

START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:

It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.

However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.

Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.

How sustainable is our school now?

Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?

What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.

START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.

It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.

Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.

Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.

Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.

Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.