Education That Grows With the World

About us

We’re researchers, educators, and community builders who roll up our sleeves and ask big questions:

• How can schools promote literacy without adding to teacher burnout?

• What does inclusive education really look like in action?

• How do we prepare students to solve complex, global problems?

We turn those questions into real-world projects, partnerships, and tools that make education more equitable, meaningful, and future-ready.

Our Story

ISE was founded by a team of educators and researchers who saw the disconnect between what students were learning and what the world needed. We started small—with a pilot curriculum in one school district—and grew into a national and international resource for sustainable education research, tools, and community-driven initiatives.

Today, we partner with schools, universities, nonprofits, and governments to push for change that starts in the classroom and ripples outward.

What We Value

Collaboration

We work with teachers, not just for them

Global Perspective

Local ideas with global relevance

Lifelong Learning

For students, educators, and ourselves

Bold Ideas

We’re not afraid to challenge outdated systems

Meet Our Leadership

ISE is guided by a diverse team of visionary educators, researchers, and changemakers who are deeply committed to reimagining what education can be. With backgrounds spanning classroom teaching, policy development, instructional design, and global engagement, our leaders bring a wealth of experience and a shared purpose: to advance learning that is equitable, forward-thinking, and rooted in sustainability. Their collaborative approach ensures that our work remains innovative, responsive, and grounded in the real needs of schools and communities.

Dr. Anika Belt

Executive Director

Anika brings 20+ years of experience at the intersection of education and sustainability. A former public school teacher and policy advisor, she leads ISE with a focus on equity, systems thinking, and local-global learning.

Education: Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, University of California, Berkeley; M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Stanford University

Career Highlights:

• Former policy advisor at the Department of Education, working on sustainability and equity policies

• Developed an award-winning interdisciplinary environmental curriculum now used in schools across California

• Led international education partnerships with UNESCO on sustainable development goals

Loves: walking meetings, curriculum co-design, and any excuse to visit a school garden.

Dr. Michael Tan

Director of Research & Evaluation

Michael leads our research agenda—from climate curriculum studies to school equity audits. He’s known for turning big data into practical insights for teachers, school leaders, and policymakers.

Education: Ph.D. in Educational Policy, University of Michigan; M.A. in Public Policy, Harvard University

Career Highlights:

• Managed a multi-year study on climate change education outcomes in K-12 schools, which was cited in major policy recommendations

• Developed an equity audit tool used in over 100 schools to measure and improve educational disparities

• Published several peer-reviewed papers on educational assessment and data-driven policy development

Favorite tool: sticky notes and social network maps.

Fatima Noor

Career Highlights:

Jay Lin

Learning Design Lead

Education: M.A. in Instructional Design, University of Southern California; B.A. in Graphic Design, Rhode Island School of Design

Career Highlights:

Program Director, Community & Global Engagement

Fatima builds bridges—with schools, grassroots partners, and education innovators around the world. She runs our educator exchange programs and local partnership network.

Education: M.A. in International Education, New York University; B.A. in Sociology, University of Chicago

• Led the launch of the Global Educators Exchange Program, facilitating international partnerships between over 50 schools globally

• Worked with UNESCO’s education division on global teacher training initiatives for sustainable development

• Partnered with grassroots organizations to create a community-driven educational framework adopted by several school districts

Best day ever: field trip + student panel + teacher potluck.

Jay helps make our tools and trainings come alive—online and in person. With a background in edtech and instructional design, they turn complex ideas into practical, beautiful learning experiences.

• Designed a widely adopted edtech platform for interactive climate change learning for middle and high school students

• Developed a suite of professional development programs for educators focusing on blended learning and student-centered design

• Awarded the 2022 EdTech Innovation Award for work on virtual classrooms for global education

Secret skill: hand-drawn visual notes and ridiculously good slides.

Maya Rodriguez

Career Highlights:

Education Specialist

Education: M.A. in Multilingual Education, Columbia University; B.A. in Early Childhood Education, University of Texas

Always reading: a children's book and an education policy report–at the same time.

Maya supports curriculum development across our programs. A bilingual educator with roots in early childhood and multilingual education, she makes sure our work resonates across ages and communities.

• Created a bilingual early childhood curriculum that is now used in over 200 schools across the U.S.

• Developed a comprehensive framework for integrating multilingual and cultural education into K-12 curriculums

• Led workshops for teachers across Latin America on bilingual education strategies and inclusive practices