AGC Blog

Spaces and strategies thrive when they are shared.

This fall, the Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC) welcomed educators and innovators from around the world to our Educator Symposium, a professional day-long program that showcased best practices from their future-forward educational model rooted in sustainability, community, and social justice.

Hosted at AGC’s net-positive campus in Chicago, this inaugural gathering invited participants to immerse themselves in AGC’s award-winning, evidence-based approach that is redefining what education can look like for future generations.

As a public Pre-K–8 school and innovation incubator, AGC has inspired intentional action and nurtured mindful leadership since its founding in 2008, impacting more than 5 million students and 10,000 educators worldwide.

With Illinois now among the states requiring climate education in public schools, AGC offers proven practical frameworks for teachers and leaders to reinvigorate their own curricula and transform school communities through sustainability in action.

Learn more about the key areas of interest in AGC’s space- and evidence-based approach informed by AGC’s Educator Symposium attendees.

Structure for Success in Sustainability

Educators from across Chicago Public Schools and global institutions arrived eager to learn about AGC’s sustainability practices, value-driven partnerships, and AGC’s holistic approach to education known as The AGC Way.

Environment, wellness, and wonder inform every decision at AGC. From curriculum design to campus architecture, AGC’s work impacts how students engage both locally and globally: sustainability integration, place-based learning, the International Baccalaureate model, and dual language instruction.

During the Symposium, visitors observed garden-based science lessons, bilingual environmental projects, and student-led initiatives connecting ecological stewardship with social justice. 

These tangible examples helped educators see firsthand how sustainability can be woven into every aspect of teaching and learning, benefiting both communities and the planet.

Spaces for Exploration and Connection

One of the Symposium’s most celebrated features features AGC’s Village Model, which embodies curiosity, inquiry, and collaboration in daily practice.

At AGC, students learn in “villages”—multi-age communities that share both physical space and responsibility for one another’s growth. Each village includes classrooms connected by flexible learning zones and access to shared indoor and outdoor spaces across the campus. This design reflects AGC’s belief that learning should be dynamic, interconnected, and deeply human.

The villages themselves are environments of exploration: filled with natural light, student gardens, kitchen classrooms, Ecotone zones for transdisciplinary learning, and spaces that blur the boundaries between indoors and out. 

Teachers co-lead across these spaces, offering mutual support and expanding each child’s circle of mentorship and belonging. For students, every corner of the campus becomes a place to ask questions, experiment, and see how their ideas connect to the living systems around them.

This structure not only changes how children learn, but also how adults teach, plan, and collaborate. Educators have more opportunities to share expertise, model teamwork, and build authentic relationships that ripple across the community.

Participants shared how transformative it was to experience the Village Model in action, seeing architecture, curriculum, and community intertwine to create a school that truly feels alive. The design itself becomes a teacher, inviting curiosity, connection, and joy into every moment of learning.

Strategies for Collaboration and Success

Lasting change in education requires sustained support and shared learning. Throughout the day, Symposium participants engaged in workshops and discussions that focused on translating AGC’s practices into their own schools and communities, bridging the gap between inspiration and implementation.

Educators explored practical frameworks for integrating sustainability into everyday learning, from developing garden-based science units to creating interdisciplinary projects around food systems, energy, and climate action. These sessions highlighted how AGC’s approach rooted in inquiry, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving can be adapted across diverse contexts and age levels.

Many participants noted that the warmth, openness, and collaboration of AGC’s staff deeply shaped their experience, reflecting the same culture of care that anchors AGC’s success with students. The Symposium modeled AGC’s educational philosophy by giving educators the freedom to explore, reflect, and engage in dialogue that was both personal and practical.

The day concluded with a collaborative reflection session, where attendees shared insights, identified actionable next steps, and discussed ways to embed sustainability, curiosity, and wellbeing into their classrooms and school systems. 

Educators left feeling energized, empowered, and prepared to bring AGC’s frameworks for joyful, place-based, and climate-conscious learning back to their own communities.

When educators are given time and space to connect, wonder, and learn from one another, the possibilities for our students—and our planet—expand exponentially.

We are deeply grateful to all who joined us for this milestone event, and to our partners who continue to help us reshape the future of education.

The Educator Symposium is one of many AGC Institute gatherings, with more opportunities on the horizon for educators to take advantage of AGC’s invaluable resources and collaborative networks.

If sustainability is a passion or a priority for you, learn more and take action with AGC today.