NEW YORK STATE
Clean Energy for Educators Insititute
Welcome!
Welcome to the NYS Clean Energy Educator Institute! We are so glad to spend the next four days with you all exploring clean energy goals.
You will leave this workshop ready to teach your students about clean energy and the future career opportunities it provides through hands-on learning.
WhyMaker is proud to have the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as the sponsor for the Clean Energy Educator Institutes.
Resources
What to bring:
-
Laptop
-
Chargers
- Reusable water bottle
- Headphones
EVENT SCHEDULE
**Subject to change**
DAY ONE - JULY 17: Energy Grid Basics & Solar Power
8:00 AM: Check In & Breakfast
Welcome on behalf of Hofstra University’s School of Education. Each morning participants will check in and are welcomed to enjoy a provided breakfast.
10:00 AM: Introduction to Energy Grids, Power Generation & Transmission
What is energy Grid? What is power generation? How can we store energy?
NYPA Electricity Basics Activity 1 & 2
Energy Storage Article Energy Storage Collaborative Slide Deck
11:30 AM: Brain Break
11:40 AM: NYS Climate Agenda CLCPA, its Goals and Policies
12:30 PM: LUNCH BREAK
Lunch provided.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Come and listen to a colleague about Energetic: The Board Game and how you can use it in your class to teach students how to decarbonize NYC.
1:30 PM: Solar Panel
Explore solar energy using the Vernier Solar Energy Exploration kit then apply the use of solar energy to a real world problem in a Solar Fountain Design Challenge. And if you're really feeling adventurous, try experimenting with multiple solar panels in your design!
3:00 PM: End
DAY TWO -JULY 18: Wind Energy & Clean Energy Tour
8:00 AM: Check In & Breakfast
Welcome on behalf of Hofstra University’s School of Education. Each morning participants will check in and are welcomed to enjoy a provided breakfast
9:00 AM: Mindful Breathing
9:05 AM: Energy Audit
Saving Energy Jamboard. Conservation vs. Efficiency: What's the difference?
Use a Kill a Watt Electric Monitor to complete an energy audit and then explore your carbon footprint further at Your Plan, Your Planet and Carbon Footprint Calculator
9:30 AM: Depart for Hempstead Clean Energy Park in Lido Beach
Transportation is provided for this tour, which is outdoors. Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes.
12:15 PM: Depart for Hofstra University
12:45 PM: LUNCH BREAK
Lunch provided.
3:00 PM: End
DAY THREE -JULY 19: Geothermal Energy, Environmental Justice & Building Decarbonization
8:00 AM: Check In & Breakfast
Welcome on behalf of Hofstra University’s School of Education. Each morning participants will check in and are welcomed to enjoy a provided breakfast.
9:00 AM: Letter to the Future
Imagine yourself 10 years from now and consider the impact you would like to have made in the field of clean energy education. Outline your aspiration, goals, and intentions for promoting clean energy in your classroom.
9:30 AM: Geothermal Energy for HVAC/R
Geothermal Experiments Instructions
Use Studentenergy.org/map to explore the resources of Geothermal Energy.
10:15 AM: Resource Exploration
Grade Band /Subject Area
Make a decision on which unit you want to teach your students and what you think you want to share with the teachers in your building.
11:15 AM: Environmental Justice
What is environmental Justice and why is it important to the climate change action? Create a lesson plan after reviewing the interactive map at Disadvantaged Communities Criteria - NY CLCPA and drop it in this folder.
12:00 PM: LUNCH BREAK
Lunch provided.
1:00 PM: Building Decarbonization
Get ready for a design challenge where you will collaborate and build a life size energy-efficient home! Energy House (Efficiency).
3:00 PM: End
DAY FOUR -JULY 20: Clean Transportation & Panel Discussion
8:00 AM: Check In & Breakfast
Welcome on behalf of Hofstra University’s School of Education. Each morning participants will check in and are welcomed to enjoy a provided breakfast.
9:00 AM: Design Challenge Presentations
As a group, share your design and explain the learning process
9:30 AM: Clean Transportation
10:30 AM: Brain Break & Housekeeping
Stipends & Surveys
11:00 AM: Panel Discussion
Clean energy professionals will chat with us in this career panel discussion so we can share their stories with our students
12:30 PM: LUNCH BREAK - Sponsored by NYPA
Lunch provided.
1:00 PM: Sign Up For Stipends
Meet with NYSERDA Finance Team between 1-2pm.
1:30 PM: Lesson Plan Collaboration
Explore more Clean energy resources and engage in group discussions and brainstorming to integrate all your knowledge and skills learned into lesson plans and classroom activities that promote environmental justice and support the goals of NYS Climate Agenda CLCPA
2:00 PM: Evaluation & CTLE Credits
3:00 PM: Enjoy the rest of your summer!
MEET YOUR TEAM

Liz Gallo
CEO of WhyMaker
Everyone loves being around Liz, she is naturally curious and can make you feel like you are the most important person in the room.

Medinah Eatman
Professional Development Provider
As an educator and a mother, Medinah enjoys sharing hands-on science activities with those around her.

Laurie Yager
Professional Development Provider
Laurie, an Ed Tech Specialist with a talent for creative problem-solving and a thirst for knowledge, possesses the ability to make teachers feel welcome, validated, and encouraged.
MEET YOUR PANELIST
Tianna Tyler
Environmental Justice Program Coordinator
As an Environmental Justice Program Coordinator, Tianna oversees our traditional STEM programs. She engages with students in grades 3-12, and college freshmen and sophomores on energy education such as clean energy technology solutions, climate change, and electricity generation and production, and raising awareness on the upcoming career opportunities in STEM in the energy sector.
Tianna has over 5 years in education experience. She was an environmental educator at the Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE), where she conducted workshops for students and the community on the intersection between Climate, Resiliency and Race.
She has also worked as a curriculum developer, implementing interactive lessons and hands on activities for middle school and college bound students for the New York Water Environmental Association (Syracuse NY) and NYS DEC.
She has worked with some of our current upstate and downstate stakeholders including STEP and CSTEP, NY Botanical gardens and NYC Dept. of Sanitation, training businesses and community-based organizations on NYC environmental laws.
Tianna has a BS Science Technology and Society (SUNY Farmingdale) and a Masters in Environmental Resources Engineering (SUNY ESF).
Steven Eget
Downstate NY Local Business Line Leader, Earth + Environment | Sr. Vice President I WSP
Steven Eget, PE CEM, is an environmental engineer with almost 30 years of experience in environmental management, sustainability environmental permitting and compliance. Steve specializes in providing these services to government agencies and private companies including many utilities and private energy developers in the Metropolitan New York area. In his current position at WSP, Steve leads the operations of the Downstate NY group for their Earth and Environment division. Steve received his Bachelors in Engineer from Rutgers University and his Masters in Environmental Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.
Rosalie Drago
Commissioner of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs
With nearly 30 years of New York-based economic and workforce development experience, Rosalie Drago has dedicated her career to equitable and inclusive growth. Currently serving as Suffolk County’s first female Commissioner of Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs, she is focused on building economic foundations for quality, sustainable employment and prosperity for the region’s residents and businesses.
Prior to joining Suffolk County, Commissioner Drago served as Long Island Regional Director for Workforce Development Institute where she partnered with Long Island employers, labor unions, lawmakers, and educators to strengthen communities through the creation of a more skilled workforce.
Before making her home on Long Island, Ms. Drago worked to support economic prosperity for the residents and businesses in Brooklyn and New York City. Supporting 1,500 member businesses as COO and Vice President of Marketing and Membership for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, assisting emerging downtowns as Neighborhood Economic Development Specialist, and authoring Brooklyn’s first tourism plan as Tourism Consultant for the then Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. In addition, Rosalie also worked as Tourism Marketing Director for iconic NYC destinations including the American Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Lyle Sclair
Economic Development Manager, Community Offshore Wind
Lyle Sclair is leading Community Offshore Wind’s economic development efforts. He is responsible for developing our innovative approach to workforce development, economic development, and supply chain engagement with a focus on supporting MWBE and SDVOB firms.
Lyle brings over fifteen years of experience working with government agencies, not for profits and small businesses to move complex public-private economic development projects along from concept to implementation. Most recently, Lyle served as an economic development representative on National Grid’s New York economic development team, where he was responsible for working with economic development customers and stakeholders across their New York City and Long Island gas service territory. Prior to joining National Grid, Lyle was the executive director of Bayside Village BID, representing over 117 property owners and 250 small businesses. He also served as a special advisor to the board of directors of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, providing technical assistance to over 40 chambers across Nassau County.
He has a master’s degree in urban planning from New York University and received his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a certified economic developer by the International Economic Development Council and most recently participated in Coro Leadership NY.
Kyle Rabin
Director of Membership Services & Policy Analyst
Kyle Rabin serves as Director of Membership Services and as a policy analyst on matters pertaining to Large-Scale Renewables. He joined the ACE NY team in September of 2020. Kyle has over two decades of experience working on a wide range of environmental and sustainability issues related to energy, water and agriculture. Most recently Kyle served as program manager at the Long Island Regional Planning Council for New York State’s Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP).
Prior to his role at LIRPC, Kyle was Director of Programs at GRACE Communications Foundation. Earlier in his career, Kyle served as Executive Director of Friends of the Bay and also worked for Riverkeeper and Environmental Advocates of New York.
Kyle earned a Master of Science in Environmental Science at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at Binghamton University.
Ready to Take Your Clean Energy Education Into Your Own Hands?

Clean Energy Resources
Lesson Plans, Tools, Training, Grids, and Maps to help you and your students build awareness and understanding of how to make a difference in order to meet NYS' ambitious Clean Energy goals over the next 10 years.

Additional Clean Energy Resources
We've compiled a vast list of clean energy resources from around the web, all vetted for your classroom.