Creative Change Educational Solutions
Organization Description:
Creative Change Educational Solutions (CCES) is a nonprofit institution focused on K-12 sustainability education. Founded in 2000 by Susan Santone, a former teacher, the organization’s staff and board include practicing teachers, university educators, and content experts from science, economics, and public policy fields.
CCES specializes in interdisciplinary curricula development and teacher education with a focus on sustainability education: preparing students to be effective citizens in a diverse, democratic, and ecologically health society. Curriculum programs introduce students to academic and career pathways focused on urban revitalization, green building and manufacturing, sustainable agriculture and food systems, and other aspects of a sustainable economy. CCES works to integrates all elements of sustainability, including ecological and community health, global interdependence, human rights, and ecological economics. CCES offers meaningful learning experiences, provides individuals with new insights, and enables them to apply their knowledge in authentic contexts.
Throughout its history CCES, has served teachers, students, and citizens by collaborating with public schools, governmental agencies, universities, and nonprofit institutions. Partners and funders include: the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project, Washtenaw County Government, public schools around the country, foundations, Purdue University, Eastern Michigan University, and other non-profits.
Examples of Program Areas:
The Ecological Footprint is a family of programs focused on helping students understand and reduce their impact on the earth. Programs help students explore the impact of their food choices, transportation, energy usage, and other factors. Students learn connections among biology, earth science, and geography as they develop strategies to lower their footprint. Educational resources include lesson plans, professional development programs for teachers, and a bank of curriculum exemplars that serve as models for students and teachers.
Economics for the Common Good is a high school unit focused on the interactions of ecological and economic systems. Students explore strategies to create a sustainable economy through green manufacturing, policy reform, and alternatives to the GDP to measure “progress.” The program brings an interdisciplinary perspective to economics, civics, and environmental science courses.
Designed by Nature is a middle school curriculum and teacher education program focused on product life cycles, environmental product design, and ecological economics. Developed in partnership with Eastern Michigan University, the program integrates hands-on science with informational reading, analytical skills, and persuasive writing. The program also builds critical thinking about the economy using sustainability principles.
Our Town is an interdisciplinary high school curriculum that engages students in the science and economics of brownfields redevelopment. Developed in partnership with Purdue University, Our Town leads students through a process of identifying specific brownfield sites, studying their redevelopment potential, and creating redevelopment plans in partnership with community stakeholders.