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2023-2024 Clean Energy Fellows: New Jersey OWELs (Offshore Wind Educational Leaders) Cohort

This cohort of educators from across New Jersey explored, tested, and designed innovative and equitable tools for engaging students in the rapidly innovating New Jersey offshore wind sector. These leaders worked in a small cohort to collaboratively discuss the implementation and integration of energy curriculum and identified ways to increase the use of that curriculum across the state.

Photo Gallery

Group of people in hard hats approach large rusting metal cylinders of a retired wind turbine
3 photos: Left photo: Students at a square desk assemble a wind turbine model with dowels and a foam hub. Center photo: Three people two students give thumbs up while a third holds a stick with a foam hub and 4 blades to catch wind. Right photo: 3 students sit at a hexagon table.
Microcontroller board connected with alligator clips to the top of a cardboard box near blue tape. USB cable attached to board.
Kidwind wind turbine model with three rectangle blades sitting on the floor in front of a box fan sitting on a bucket.
3 photos: left photo: women using a wind turbine model with box fan. Center photo: Woman by a presentation screen that reads, "Renewable Energy Lesson Ideas for your Makerspace and STEAM classes Kathleen Bially" Right photo: Two women with a turbine hub and 4 rectangular cardboard blades.
3 photos: Left photo: School bus and students are before a nuclear cooling tower with a work crane. Center photo: Student uses a van de graff generator and plastic strips. Right photo: Group with matching black and green bags pose for a photo.

Additional Info

Links

2023-2024 Clean Energy Fellows: OWELS Showcase Celebration

Collaborative Partners

KidWind
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
Wind Institute for Innovation and Training
RePowering Schools
WhyMaker Maplewood Shop
STEM Insights

Funding Partners

KidWind
New Jersey Economic Development Authority

Elise Naramore Headshot

“  This program has been transformative, not only for my teaching practice but also for the broader educational community I’m part of. The fellowship provided the freedom to explore and design according to my classroom needs while connecting me with a network of passionate educators and professionals. The resources and support from the program have been invaluable, allowing me to bring cutting-edge renewable energy education to my students. I am excited about the possibilities for future roles, connections, and projects that have emerged from this experience, and I look forward to continuing this journey of integrating renewable energy into education. “

Elise Naramore

2023-2024 Clean Energy Fellow, Offshore Wind Education Leaders (OWELs) Cohort

Resources from this cohort

T-shaped piece of paper with a grid on the table surface in the foreground and a grid with diagonal red lines and curvy diagonal blue lines on the vertical surface. The back surface also has a grid. The game sits on a grey classroom desktop.

Battleship Windfarms
battleship windfarms

GRADE(S): 4TH, 5TH, 6TH,

Wind power is a renewable resource that provides humans with an alternative to fossil fuels. However, wind farms cannot be built everywhere and when …

Meet the Clean Energy Fellows

Gregory Schanne Headshot
Gregory Schanne

Maple Shade High School, Maple Shade NJ

Gregory Schanne is a high school science teacher at Maple Shade High School in New Jersey. He teaches a variety of STEM subjects including Physics, Life Science and Biology. He is very interested in incorporating more renewable energy curriculum into his classroom. Gregory is tri-lingual and is passionate about translating curriculum for English language learners. He has been working lately on translating wind energy curriculum into Spanish and Portuguese

Emily Grantham Headshot
Emily Grantham

Deptford Middle School, Sewell NJ

Emily is a 6th grade Computer Science teacher at Deptford Middle School in Sewell, NJ. She is passionate about finding ways to incorporate computer science into renewable energy curriculum and creating trainings for her peers and colleagues.

Ryan Gilligan Headshot
Ryan Gilligan

Valley Middle School, Oakland NJ

Ryan is a Middle School Environmental Science and STEM teacher at Valley Middle School in Oakland, NJ. He enjoys incorporating computer science into his lessons and regularly uses MicroBits to help students explore these topics. Ryan has also developed teacher PD course focusing on renewable energy in STEM education

Line drawing of a person in front of a board with lines on it in dark blue.
Maria Filipe

School 28, Elizabeth NJ

Maria is a Elementary Computer Science and CTE teacher at School 28 in Elizabeth, NJ. Maria enjoys finding ways to make computer science and literacy more relevant to students. Wind energy is of particular interest to Maria.

Sharonda Allen Headshot
Sharonda Allen

Founder and President, Operation Grow, East Orange NJ

Sharonda is a educator, community organizer and activist living in East Orange, NJ. She is the founder of Operation Grow, a local non-profit, who’s mission is is to Improve Quality of Life, Build Economic Prosperity, Develop Good Citizenship, and Foster Environmental Stewardship through Human, Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability. Sharonda is a passionate leader who works at the intersection of sustainable food systems, workforce development, renewable energy and youth development. She is passionate about removing barriers and creating opportunties for Black youth in her community

Jacqueleen Bido Headshot
Jacqueleen Bido

Chief Strategy Officer, Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc., Newark NJ

A Newark, New Jersey native, Jacqueleen Bido, Ed.D. earned her Doctorate from Seton Hall University in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy. She is the founder of Elevate Newark and BIDOISM LLC, which are consulting companies created to empower and help people, their organizations, and the communities they serve to invoke social change. As the Chief Strategy Officer of Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc., she continues to expand her mission through business consultation, program development, grant writing, and the creation of the Garden of Hope in Newark, New Jersey. Bido is also proud to have served her country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in the United States Navy. She is mother to five beautiful children, who have been her greatest achievement because their mere existence proves the importance of the work she does to make the world a better place for them and all to live in.

Maura Simister Headshot
Maura Simister

Manchester Township Middle School, Manchester NJ

Maura is a Middle School STEM, Oceanology and Aerospace Science Teacher at Manchester Township Middle School. She is passionate about interdisciplinary STEM learning and enjoys finding ways to integrate clean energy topics into marine biology and aerospace lessons. Maura is also focused on increasing gender equity within STEM education spaces and regularly organizes Women in STEM events for her local community.

Kathleen Bially Headshot
Kathleen Bially

Gateway Regional High School, Woodbury Heights NJ

Kathleen Bially is a Media Specialist and Librarian in the Gateway Regional School District. She teachers all grade levels and enjoys finding ways to integrate STEM learning into media and library sciences

Jennifer Hill Headshot
Jennifer Hill

Maurice River Township Elementary School, Port Elizabeth NJ

Jennifer is a Agriculture Science Teacher at Maurice River Township Elementary School. She enjoys teaching students about sustainable ag practices and also focuses on environmental education in her classrooms.

Elise Naramore Headshot
Elise Naramore

Pasack Valley High School, Montvale NJ

Elise has been a science teacher for 30 years, teaching physics, chemistry, biology, math, and earth science. Her work is characterized by trying new technology and approaches, in order to provide the best possible learning experience for kids. She presented at conferences annually at either NSTA, ASCD, or NJSTA, with workshops on rubric design, inquiry, standards-based learning, project-based learning, writing CERs, and assessment design, amongst others.