CSW Welcomes Sustainability Consultant Liz Cutler

In support of its commitment to environmental stewardship, CSW recently hosted a five-day visit with sustainability consultant Liz Cutler of Whole School Sustainability.

Liz’s work work has been recognized nationally, earning a Sustainable Princeton Leadership Award, National Garden Club of America Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award, and the Richard Rotter Award for Excellence in Environmental Education. 
 
During her visit to CSW, Liz engaged with students, faculty, staff, board members, and parents/guardians through a series of conversations and interactive sessions encouraging participants to reflect on their personal habits and offering valuable insights on how small changes can collectively contribute to a more sustainable future.
 
At an all-school assembly, Liz challenged students to look beyond singular, tactical changes like recycling or composting and to seek greater connections between society, economy, and the environment. She explained that she wanted this generation to feel hopeful and powerful rather than discouraged, and emphasized that the best way to deal with anxiety about the environment is to act.
 
Later, Liz visited faculty meeting to talk about the role of sustainability in teaching and learning, and the most effective ways to implement it in the classroom. Sustainability is not an add-on, she explained, but a lens to shape how we build and appreciate work.
 
Liz encouraged all community members to try to keep sustainability at top of mind every single day by asking themselves, How does what I do every day in my office/classroom role model or teach sustainability?
 
Following her visit, Liz will craft a report on CSW’s current sustainability efforts, offering recommendations for further improvement.

CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.