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Excellence and Equity in Education

Climate-Ready Schools Symposium

Cultivating Sustainable Schools and Strong Communities

The Climate-Ready Schools Symposium took place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the San Mateo County Office of Education. The conference brought school leaders from across San Mateo County together to learn and share promising practices to improve environmental literacy, address legislative requirements, and promote sustainable operations and facilities. Breakout sessions featured leading practitioners, district champions, agency experts, and student leaders, who identified strategies, funding sources, and regional resources to accomplish environmental education and sustainability goals.

Westlight Energy Logo

Thank you to Westlight Energy for their support and sponsorship throughout the years!

SMCOE Superintendent Marco Chavez stands at a podium presenting to the Climate Ready Schools Symposium audience seated in chairs.
A presenter stands at a podium in front of two projection screens displaying information, while the Climate Ready Schools Symposium audience sits in chairs facing the stage in a conference room.
A woman speaks at a podium with a laptop to an audience as a keynote speaker of the Climate Ready Schools Symposium
Two young students in white polos stand at a podium with a microphone, presenting to an audience
A man in a grey sweater and green lanyard speaks from behind a podium to an audience
A young man in a gray sweatshirt presents during a Climate Ready Schools Symposium breakout session with a microphone and pointer in front of a screen
Three presenters at the Climate Ready Schools Symposium are seated at a table with microphones and a laptop
Attendees listen to a Breakout Session at the Climate Ready Schools Symposium
A man and woman from a reusable dishware organization stand behind a table at the climate ready school symposium displaying orange reusable containers, while in the background, other attendees mingle near booths
A woman from the community based environmental education network is tabling at the climate ready schools symposium
Tablers explore the organizations tabling at the climate ready schools symposium

2026 Keynote Speakers

Photo of Karen Cowe

Karen Cowe is an education industry executive with over 30 years of experience spanning sales, fundraising, marketing, program design, professional learning, business development, and operations. She is the founding CEO of Ten Strands, a California nonprofit dedicated to advancing environmental literacy and supporting sustainable, resilient TK–12 schools.

Previously, Karen was President and CEO of Key Curriculum Press, a pioneering K–12 STEM publisher and served as Managing Director of Burlington Books in Athens, Greece, where she helped develop English-language instructional materials for Greek students.

Karen chairs the boards of Cognia and Open Up Resources, serves on the board of Golestan School, and advises Seventh Generation Advisors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in education from Saint John’s College, York, England, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s College, California.

Hua Brothers photo

Brothers Ethan and Desmond co-founded the  H.O.P.E. Uniforms Program, a student led nonprofit that collects, recycles, and distributes free school uniforms to families in need. Desmond is a freshman at Aragon High School, and Ethan is a senior. Founded in 2020, the program now serves multiple districts and has become one of the largest school‑uniform recycling efforts in the country. What began as a small local project has grown through community partnerships and volunteer support, promoting equity, dignity, and sustainability by reducing costs for families and keeping textiles out of landfills.

In addition to leading H.O.P.E., Ethan is an Eagle Scout and Desmond is on track to earning his Eagle Scout. Their Scout training has instilled in them at a young age the values of conservation, responsibility, and service—principles that guide their work and leadership.

2026 Symposium Agenda and Speaker Biographies

Now available: 

Time

 Activity
8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Light Breakfast
9:00 to 9:50 a.m. Introduction and Keynote Speakers
10:00 to 10:50 a.m. Breakout Session One
11:00 to 11:50 a.m. Breakout Session Two
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Community Partner Tabling
1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Reflection and Outdoor Activity