This article appeared as "The Green Dean" in the Spring 2024 issue of Independent School.
Science teacher Cush Gillen is always thinking green. He’s worked with second graders to study and repair a stream that runs through campus. He’s helped fourth graders do a waste audit, discovering that more than half of the items thrown away could be recycled. Sixth graders concerned about leaf blower noise are using new rakes to clear some areas around the school and reduce the need for the loud equipment.
This is just part of the work that led Gillen, who has been teaching at Gordon for five years, to advocate to be the first green dean at the Gordon School (RI). In addition to his teaching role, he’ll continue to support the school’s various sustainable practices and look for new ways the school can work on environment-related issues. He’ll also continue to direct the school’s Green Team.
“It has just taken off,” Gillen says about his work in the new position. “The response from the administration, the staff, parents, and the students has been so enthusiastic. I think it is because this school makes sustainability part of its mission and takes it very seriously.”
Gillen, who is the founder of Magic Tree Vermicast and collects natural ingredients in the community to produce a soil supplement, is lending his expertise to those looking to “foster ecological literacy in the classroom and outside,” he says. He’ll work with teachers to brainstorm lessons and suggest changes to the curriculum to use the school’s outdoor spaces, where he hopes to develop native and indigenous gardens and improve garden boxes used by the younger students.
“I hope I can be an in-house expert and resource for teachers who are interested in using the outdoors for teaching and learning,” he says. “In addition to helping our students drive social and environmental change, sustainability initiatives will contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and minimizing overall school waste.”
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