SAN JOSE, CA – Santa Clara County Board of Education (SCCBOE) Trustee Maimona Afzal Berta, Area Six, was awarded a Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship in 2021. Berta, then a special education teacher with the Alum Rock School District, chose to defer her expedition. On December 7, 2023, she will be embarking on a professional development opportunity for pre-K–12 educators made possible through a collaboration between Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society.
“As I embark on an expedition to Antarctica and share updates on the journey with our community, my hope is that Santa Clara County students will feel inspired to explore the world and be empowered to combat climate change,” stated Berta. “For educators, I hope to document my experiences as a
Grosvenor Teacher Fellow to showcase the professional development opportunity, collaboration with educators, and ways to transform learning beyond the classroom.”
Per the National Geographic website, Grosvenor Teacher Fellows are an integral part of the National Geographic community, working to further young people’s understanding of the planet and empower them to generate solutions and take action for a healthier and more sustainable future. They help ensure that the next generation is armed with geographic knowledge and global awareness.
“The Santa Clara County Office of Education and the County Board of Education both have named environmental literacy and climate action as key initiatives and priorities,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “To have a local educator and leader recognized in this way will provide both the youth of the county and educators with first hand, relevant experience. I look forward to the photos and narratives Trustee Berta will be sharing.”
Trustee Berta will be capturing highlights of her expedition on social media, through video and lesson plan creation. She has been working with students and educators within the county to note what they are excited to learn about and the images they would like to see.
The environmental literacy and facilities teams (iSTEAM department) at the SCCOE provide resources and host events that bring students and communities together to foster climate-resilient schools. “During my expedition to Antarctica, I will work alongside scientists to gather evidence of climate change,” noted Berta. “Students and educators will have access to firsthand information to exhibit environmental impact in real life. From changes in ocean temperature to invasive diseases that harm plant and wildlife populations, data points and examples help provide real context to environmental issues impacting our community locally and on a global scale.”
As part of the fellowship program, Trustee Berta, upon her return from the expedition, will work with educators to make educational connections and develop accessible resources that will include: career technical education, environmental literacy, and climate change action planning across programs.
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