Can one person really change the world? I had my doubts, until I met Jeff Rivero. He has just been presented with the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators and named the Region 9 EPA Teacher of the Year in for his many accomplishments and contributions he makes toward improving the environment and society, producing a better tomorrow for future generations. This is only one of many awards he and his school have won for their environmental work. GRID Alternatives is so proud to be partners with such an amazing motivated person as well as his amazing students and colleagues.
Jeff and his students from Yosemite High School love coming out to install with GRID. Jeff finds just as much happiness as his students when they install a solar system, knowing that every install they do creates a cleaner and greener earth along with assisting others with economic sustainability. They care so much about the systems they install, that they have a solar array on campus they practice on to ensure an efficient installation for the residents we serve. This isn’t the only thing Jeff and his students do to change the world. They make many contributions on a daily basis in many areas.
Jeff takes his teaching efforts to the extreme, inspiring his students to get involved with every aspect of global improvement. Jeff teaches United States History and Current Events, and has taken the initiative of integrating environmental education into his curriculum. An article on whitehouse.gov titled Honoring Student and Teachers at the 2016 Presidential Environmental Educational Ceremony says “He teaches 88 current events lessons, covering topics such as energy use, fuel resources, renewable energy, climate change, pollution, waste water treatment, and overpopulation. Examples of his students’ projects include creating a campus policy to conserve water, researching plastic bags made from protein, and advocating for drought-resistant landscaping on part of the school campus.” He extends educational opportunities for his students through the Green Team, an after school program that runs through The Dragon Academy, where students participate in various community services projects including installing solar systems with GRID. They also learn about and participate in worm farming, composting and recycling projects. They enjoy working in their campus garden where they grow fruits and vegetables and are currently constructing an outdoor classroom.
In an interview, I asked Jeff where he finds the motivation and the ideas for all of the amazing things he does. He gives credit to his students stating, “On the Green Team, my philosophy, rather than telling students what to do, I find out what they want to do, incorporating the environmental things they need to learn about, and supplementing with the things that inspire them.” His primary motivators are his children, ages eight and ten.
Jeff will do anything it takes to ensure a better future for his students and his children. With all of these amazing achievements Jeff manages to find time to be a dedicated father, never missing out on his children’s games or any important moments of their lives. He is also the Athletic Director at Yosemite High School, and is very passionate about having his students involved in a varsity league giving his student the opportunity to play over 70 co -ed games a year between volleyball, football, bowling, basketball, soccer, and softball with other high schools. This provides a more inclusive high school experience for his students, who may not have had that option at another continuation school.
After seeing how smart and motivated, as well as optimistic these students are, I was surprised and impressed to learn that this was continuation school. Jeff Rivero sees this as no different than any other high school. Students who society refers to as “at risk,” Jeff refers to as “At Opportunity.” Jeff knows that a student who may not excel in general education, will excel in another area, or may just take a different approach to learning. Jeff meets this demand by providing a different approach to teaching.
Meeting the needs of his students and growing demand for Career Technical Education for skilled trade workers Jeff, along with first time high school teacher Kahri Boykin, helped launch the school’s G-TEC class which gets students ready to enter the solar industry. The class started through the after school Dragon Academy as the two taught the students. Boykin now teaches G-TEC during the regular school day as the two instructors work at making the campus energy efficient. The G-TEC class teams up with GRID Alternatives to gain hands-on training and experience. Jeff is also assisting first time instructor Alan Birks in teaching students about the truck driving industry, another field that can lead to a lucrative career for their students. He is collaborating with Alan to prepare lesson plans that integrate State Standards, Environmental Education, as well as implementing periodical questions to check for understanding. The goal of this class is to teach students the skills they will need to know before getting behind the wheel. This prior training puts them at priority when applying for jobs, impressing employers. Jeff brings light to his students’ individual talents and motivations, encouraging them to succeed in a way that suits them and makes them happy. GRID is happy to partner with Jeff in these amazing initiatives, being one of the biggest components of his Environmental Education.
Jeff says that Yosemite High school is the best continuation school in the nation, and I think this an accurate assessment. Yosemite High School is the first and only continuation school in state to win California’s Green Ribbon School Gold Level Award, granted by the state Superintendent’s office.
Jeff gives thanks to the State Superintendent of public instruction, Tom Torlakson and Green Ribbon director Leslie Taylor who have been a huge motivation for students and staff at Yosemite High School. He is grateful for their openness in providing information to help make their schools greener for the students. “When you say green, most people think of recycling, but the state also thinks of it in terms of physical and mental health, they care about ventilation that is going on and the energy that is being produced on campuses,” says Jeff. He is thankful that they help promote mental health with anti-bullying initiatives as well as supporting Career Technical Education.
GRID Alternatives is so happy to be partner of Jeff Rivero, his students, and his colleagues at Yosemite High School. Working together, we will make the world a better place for future generations!