KAEE endorses equitable pay and hiring guidance from SEEA

Elizabethtown, Ky., April 20, 2023 – The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) has announced its endorsement of eeGuidance for Equitable Pay and Hiring in Environmental Education by the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA).

The guidance was published as a result of a 2021 landscape analysis conducted by SEEA that was designed to understand the current state, ongoing needs and growth areas for the regional environmental education field. Through the analysis, data confirmed that entry-level pay in environmental education is 15 to 25 percent lower than in comparable fields such as forestry, tourism and formal education.

"The SEEA landscape analysis documented what those of us working in environmental education already know that there are inequities in pay and hiring,” said Lauren Pyle, Executive Director of the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. “This eeGuidance is the first resource the environmental education community can use to change this.”

The eeGuidance for Equitable Pay and Hiring in Environmental Education provides recommendations and highlights some best practices for environmental and outdoor education organizations. These standards and resources are designed to improve employee retention, attract more diverse talent, create a sustainable career path and establish the field of environmental education as a viable profession.

The guidance asserts that there are several key areas that employers must change to make environmental education careers more accessible to a broader population, including pay and benefits, position design, recruitment, processes and practices. The guidance provides researched explanations of why these areas matter and outlines specific minimum standards for employers to enact immediately. Through the guidance, SEEA also identifies the target standards that all employers in the field must work toward to transform employment.

“We hope that employers review the standards in the eeGuidance when designing positions, staff and supervisors use it to advocate for higher salaries, and that job boards flag positions that meet these standards to help job seekers find sustainable employment,” said Pyle.

KAEE joins other environmental education organizations throughout the Southeastern U.S. in their endorsement, such as Environmental Educators of North Carolina, the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina and the Environmental Education Association of Alabama.

“These research-based recommendations provide organizations throughout the southeast who emphasize environmental education with a strong path forward in regard to equitable employment practices,” said Ashley Hoffman, Executive Director of SEEA. “By following this guidance, we can further inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and ensure that our planet is in good hands."

To learn more about the eeGuidance from the SEEA, visit www.southeastee.org/eeguidance.html.

Thinking Outside the Classroom

With spring in full swing and Earth Month upon us, now is the perfect time for educators to think outside the classroom and utilize one of the best teaching tools we have at our disposal: the great outdoors. April 19 through 22 is Environmental Education Week, a time to emphasize and encourage education that focuses on and utilizes the natural world. At the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE), this is the kind of work we do year-round.

As a part of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Affiliate Network, KAEE is taking part in a pledge campaign known as Outside for 5, encouraging teachers and educators in Kentucky to engage in outdoor learning for at least five minutes a day, five days a week, or any meaningful amount of time.

According to a report by researchers from Stanford University, 98 percent of studies that examined whether students gained knowledge from environmental education saw a positive impact, while 90 percent of studies reported increased skills, 86 percent reported positive changes and 83 percent reported enhanced environment related behaviors.

So, what’s the big deal about outdoor learning? For one, it provides students of all ages with hands-on opportunities to explore, experiment, and interact with the natural environment. This can lead to greater student engagement and academic achievement. According to a 2014 article published in Applied Environmental Education & Communication, environmental education and outdoor programs that use explorative learning techniques can significantly enhance students’ learning attitudes. Moreover, when skilled teachers conduct these outdoor learning activities in familiar surroundings, students tend to be more engaged and achieve better outcomes in science education.

Environmental education can also help students become environmentally-conscious and develop skills to address ecological issues. According to a 2017 article published in Biological Conservation, when students realize that they have the power to make collective contributions towards conservation efforts, they feel motivated to continue pursuing such endeavors. This, in turn, enables them to retain their knowledge, skills, roles, and actions related to science and conservation, creating a strong foundation and building capacity for future conservation efforts.

For educators throughout the Commonwealth, regardless of the grade level you teach or if you teach in a rural or urban setting, there are opportunities to utilize our natural world in your curriculum. Nature comes in all sizes, and no matter where your classroom is located, you’re not far from the opportunity for meaningful and educational experiences with nature. From academic advancement to environmental stewardship, students stand to gain so much from taking the classroom outside. To learn about ways to think outside the classroom, visit kaee.org.

Educators can also gain ideas on how to engage in environmental education by attending the KAEE Outdoor Learning Symposium, set for June 1 at North Calloway Elementary School in Murray, Kentucky. Registration for teachers and administrators is currently open, and registration for non-formal educators and community partners opens April 28. Registration closes May 29. To register and learn more, visit kaee.org/outdoor-learning.

Landscape Analysis Survey for Environmental Education

Calling All Kentucky Teachers, Administrators, and Environmental Education Providers to Participate in Regional Landscape Analysis for EE

Elizabethtown, Ky., April 18, 2023 – The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) is encouraging school and district administrators and formal educators who work in the PreK-12 setting, as well as environmental education providers, to participate in a survey as part of a regional landscape analysis conducted by the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEA).

This analysis is designed to gain an enhanced understanding of environmental education providers and schools in the southeastern U.S. that are working towards similar goals. It will identify gaps and barriers to access that prevent successful implementation, and provide recommendations and next steps for increasing environmental literacy efforts in the southeast and accelerating the impact of environmental education in PreK-12 schools.

Through surveys, the analysis will gather data from PreK-12 schools and environmental education providers in the eight SEEA states. In fall of 2023, the data collected will be shared in a comprehensive analysis of environmental education offerings in the region, along with the gaps and barriers that exist in both formal and non-formal settings for students of all ages in these areas. These findings will also help provide opportunities for schools to partner with service providers to advance SEEA’s collective efforts toward environmental literacy.

To date, SEEA has surveyed over 500 schools and 600 environmental education providers. Based on findings from the analysis, several recommendations were identified for Kentucky environmental education providers, some of which include increasing the diversity of environmental education staff and leadership to better reflect the demographics of the state, addressing inequities in pay and benefits for environmental education, providing professional learning and resources to classroom teachers, and addressing gaps in services found across the state.

“This analysis will shine a light on environmental education, not just in our state but in the entire southeast region, and serve as a blueprint for future strategic planning,” said Ashley Hoffman, Executive Director of SEEA. “We strongly encourage members of our education community to take some time to complete this survey. By doing so, they are providing us with the information to shape the future of environmental education in the southeast.”

Educators and administrators can take the survey by visiting southeastee.org/survey.

###

About the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education: Since 1976, the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) has been at the forefront of environmental education in Kentucky, promoting and advocating for environmental education at the national and state levels. KAEE's membership includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, including teachers, administrators, government and agency personnel, business and industry representatives, and private citizens. In 2022, KAEE reached 1,268 educators and impacted over 31,000 students through its programs, events, workshops, webinars, and other educational offerings.