Carine Verschueren
As schools across Illinois begin responding to the state’s new climate change education mandate, many educators are asking an important question: What does meaningful climate change education actually look like in practice? On March 7, 2026, teachers will have the opportunity to explore this question during Climate Change Education: A Practical Workshop for K–12 Teachers in Illinois. Hosted by the Forum on the Future of Public Education and facilitated by Drs. Samantha Lindgren and Carine Verschueren at the Campus Instructional Facility, the workshop is designed as both a learning space and a conversation to support Illinois teachers.
The morning will begin by grounding participants in the science of climate change as it relates directly to Illinois. Teachers will hear from State Climatologist Dr. Trent Ford who will outline the state’s most pressing climate challenges as well as solutions toward resilience and adaptation. They will also hear from Collleen Aziz, a licensed clinical professional counselor, whose contribution focuses on normalizing and addressing climate emotions in the classroom and supporting student wellbeing in the face of climate uncertainty.
From there, the workshop shifts toward pedagogy. A panel featuring Drs. Stephanie Toliver, Leon Liebenberg, and Oliver Tapaha will invite participants to consider how climate change education can be approached not only as scientific content, but also as relational, creative, and future-oriented learning.
Dr. Liebenberg will introduce teachers to the concept of slow pedagogy through the creation of zines. His work highlights how creative practices can help students process complex knowledge while fostering agency. Dr. Toliver’s activity will ask educators to imagine and co-create a new world. By encouraging futures thinking, the exercise opens room for participants to envision alternative futures, an increasingly important skill in a climate-altered world. Dr. Tapaha will focus on relationality, inviting teachers to think about the connections between humans, land, and community. His storytelling and focus on interconnectedness will invite teachers to think beyond the classroom. Throughout the morning, educators will rotate through interactive activity stations, allowing them to experience several of these approaches firsthand and consider how they might translate this into their own classrooms.
The session will conclude with a preview of professional learning opportunities in sustainability and climate change education at the University of Illinois, including an online graduate certificate in Sustainability Education and a new micro-credential to be launched in July 2026. Above all, this workshop reflects a commitment of the College of Education and the Education Policy, Organization and Leadership department to supporting teachers as they help young people understand and respond to one of the defining issues of our time.
Please address questions to carinev@illinois.edu