Join us at an Awakening the Dreamer Symposium - May 22
Through dynamic group interactions, leading edge information, and inspiring multimedia, participants of this half-day event are inspired to reconnect with their deep concern for our world, and are empowered to make a difference.  For More Information

This month we introduce two visionary leaders of education - Diane Wood, Executive Director of NEEF, National Environmental Education Foundation, and Laura Kang, Head of School, ECS, Eagle Cove School (formerly Gibson Island Country School).  While their organizations operate at  different ends of the spectrum - local and national, both leaders are creating a more sustainable future through their critical roles in keeping their organizations focused on their core mission.

Diane Wood (L) presents the Richard C. Bartlett Education Award to Bertha Vazquez for her leadership in integrating environmental lessons into daily education.

Diane Wood knows that NEEF can't meet  its national  environmental education mandate person-by-person across the U.S., but they can build the capacity of practitioners to play a vital role in educating the public through  the concept of "conveyed stewardship." Educational programs support teachers, pediatricians, business managers, meteorologists and public land stewards.  These professionals "amplify messages to national audiences to solve everyday environmental problems."

Through Diane's simple, yet demanding leadership practices, NEEF's work can be focused and expansive at the same time. "Clarity is liberating.  NEEF can be clear on the core mission and nimble on their feet to reach different audiences," with their vision of conveyed stewardship.

To achieve NEEF's goals, Diane emphasizes a few core leadership practices:

1)  Keep the brand sacred. Brand clarity fosters success and growth. Periodically revisiting NEEF's core brand  provides the discipline necessary to stick to the mission. This clarity contributes to resilience and nimbleness, reinforces a powerful brand, and provides a measuring stick for new ideas.

2)  Meet people where they are to build a connection to the environment. Each person served by one of NEEF's programs, directly or indirectly, comes into the environmental conversation from their own perspective and experiences. Designing programs that work for a diverse audience is critical and honors differences. 

3) Many environmental champions are already doing what's needed. NEEF's work is listening, discovering, supporting and telling the stories of local champions.

Ms. Wood has over two decades of executive experience both nationally and internationally. She served for 15 years as the vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Ms. Wood also established WWF's Center for Conservation Innovation. Before joining NEEF, she was the executive director of the Center for a New American Dream. Washingtonian Magazine named NEEF one of the area's best places to work in its November 2009 issue.
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Students participate in Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots program. (Ms. Goodall visited the school in April 2008.)

Laura Kang is definitely a local champion. She leads Eagle Cove School (ECS), a pre-K through 5th grade school that was named one of Maryland's Green Schools in 2006. Environmental studies and eco-responsibility are fundamental components of learning and school operations. As Laura says, "we are changing the world, one child at a time." 

New to ECS in 2008 (Gibson Island Country School at the time), Laura quickly got-to-know the school's culture, mission, students, parents, board and community.  Her goal was to  build upon a strong foundation to create an even brighter future for the children and the school.

Two years later, she leads a school that has deepened its commitment to its mission through developing a vision and strategic plan, affirming the core mission, expanding community, and introducing scholarship programs that will engage diverse students. The school's renewal was complete just a few months ago, when the school released its new name - Eagle Cove School.

Looking back on  the process, Laura talked about intense listening, observation and community outreach. She also shared the leadership approaches that served her well. 

1)  Focus on mission clarity - academic excellence, community and environmental stewardship

Both Laura's and Diane's approaches work to strengthen their organizations and allow them to flourish. While there are other similarities, Laura and Diane share an unwavering focus on their missions and a commitment to engage perspectives other than their own - meet people where they are - as they are shaping the future of education. They also share something else - they both love what they do.

Laura Kang is in her second year as Head of Gibson Island Country School, a Maryland Green School. She is the recipient of the YWCA Anne Arundel County TWIN Award (tribute to women in industry);  Independent School Management awardee, and author. Prior to Gibson Island Country School, she served Severn students for 22 years as an English teacher, curriculum director, assistant Middle School Head, and Middle School Head.