Gilda Wheeler brings a lifetime of experience and commitment to learning and teaching in environmental and sustainability education.  She is currently the Program Supervisor for Environmental and Sustainability Education at the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public instruction (OSPI). She is responsible for supporting districts, schools, teachers, and students in implementing legislatively mandated environmental and sustainability education in Washington state.  This includes the development of integrated standards and assessment and professional development for classroom teachers and non-formal educators. Gilda also serves on a number of state and national boards and committees including co-chair of the E3 Washington K12/Teacher Education Sector steering committee, national K-12 Sector of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and the Council of Chief State School Officers EdSteps Global Competency work group.

Prior to joining OSPI, Gilda held the position of Program Director for the non-profit education organization, Facing the Future, where she developed hands-on experiential curriculum on global sustainability issues and led over 150 teacher workshops around the country. She is the primary author of Facing the Future's curriculum guide, “Classroom Activities for Teaching about Global Issues and Sustainable Solutions” and is co-author of Facing the Future's student textbook, “It's All Connected: A Comprehensive Guide to Global issues and Sustainable Solutions.”  Gilda was a classroom teacher for many years before turning her talents to efforts that would support all teachers and advance the field of environmental and sustainability education.  We are grateful to have a leader and colleague like Gilda in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and honor her lifetime of work in support of students, schools and learning and her passion for sustainability.