About Us
The Monmouth University Climate Change Learning Collaborative (MU CCLC) was developed by Michelle Schpakow, Ed.D., Catherine Duckett, Ph.D., and Peter Jacques, Ph.D. in collaboration with Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute (UCI), the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC), and Monmouth Conservation Foundation. With the funding support of the NJ Department of Education’s Expanding Access to Climate Change and NJ Student Learning Grant, the MU CCLC will prepare NJ K-12 teachers to teach climate change in developmentally appropriate ways across all grade levels and subject areas. Monmouth Conservation Foundation, NJ Sea Grant Consortium, and the Urban Coast Institute will offer place-based curriculum and experiential learning opportunities while Monmouth University will offer professional development related to climate science, interdisciplinary instruction, and special interest topics related to climate change. Though the MU CCLC is funded by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Education, the materials and any opinions, results, conclusions, or recommendations expressed within are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Jersey Department of Education nor constitute an endorsement thereof.
Collaboration and Community Engagement!
The MU CCLC team is here to offer support and answer questions between sessions. Sign up for email announcements and reminders from our team, or email us at MUclimateeducation@monmouth.edu. You can also join our Google Classroom to interact and collaborate with other, local educators. We look forward to working with you!
Stipend Requests
Teachers and administrators from New Jersey public schools are eligible to attend Climate Change Learning Collaborative events/opportunities and use services provided by the Climate Change Learning Collaborative. Teachers from New Jersey public schools are eligible to receive a stipend for attending Climate Change Learning Collaborative events/opportunities outside contracted hours and substitute teacher coverage for attending Climate Change Learning Collaborative events/opportunities at an offsite location during contracted hours. Teachers will be required to complete a post-event/opportunity survey to receive a stipend or substitute teacher coverage. The MU CCLC’s partnering Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in Monmouth County, Mercer County, and Union County will be given priority in event/opportunity attendance and the disbursement of stipends or substitute teacher coverage.
To request stipends, you must meet all of the above criteria. You can then submit a signed 2024 W9 and Contracted and Professional Services form to muclimateeducation@monmouth.edu for each event you attend. Stipends will be paid at the rate of $60/hour up to $180 per event. If you need help completing these forms, let us know. Your school may email us an invoice for substitute teacher costs for any events you attend during the school day.
Upcoming Professional Development Sessions
Introduction to Climate Change
June 12, 2025, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Zoom
This is a basic introduction to climate change for any educators wanting to improve their background knowledge. The session will present climate change as simple, serious, and solvable. The science behind the greenhouse effect, some of the more profound and serious climate impacts, and the most important climate solutions will be presented. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions, and some tools for teaching basic greenhouse effect will be discussed. This session may be of particular interest to teachers of subjects other than sciences. Register for Introduction to Climate Change.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 9-12)
June 17, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Zoom
Grade 9-12 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the secondary level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards. Register for Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 9-12).
Transforming Relationships for Global Sustainability
June 23, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Zoom
This professional development session will explore issues in sustainability through the lens of transforming relationships between humans and the environment. Practical ideas for sustainability initiatives in schools will be discussed. Workshop time will be provided for participants to plan for sustainability initiatives in their own schools with the support of session facilitators and in collaboration with other participants. Register for Transforming Relationships for Global Sustainability.
Coaching & Collaboration
June 27, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts. Register for Coaching & Collaboration.
Native Plants for Climate Resilience
July 2, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Zoom
Climate Change and other aspects of extreme weather motivated by global heating will cause ecological instability. Human agriculture, planting, and landscaping practices can be further destabilizing, or by working with nature’s strengths, humans can plant for greater stability. Native plants, having evolved in a location and in ecological relationships with other native creatures, can stabilize ecosystems, slow the decline of animal populations, and potentially improve water quality and buffer flooding. In this session, we will review basic climate change and the major environmental assaults on plants and animals caused by climate change. We will study selected New Jersey plants and insects as examples of ecosystem components that average NJ residents can observe and impact in their home or town. We will review some common invasive plants, and participants will have a chance to use what they learned in an exercise to “fix Dr. Duckett’s yard.” Some concepts will be appropriate for teachers of all grades. This session will be presented by Catherine Duckett, Ph.D. Register for Native Plants for Climate Resilience.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 6-8)
July 8, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Zoom
Grade 6-8 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the middle school level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards. Register for Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 6-8).
Coaching & Collaboration
July 24, 2025, 10:00-11:00 a.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts. Register for Coaching & Collaboration.