Brooklyn Teacher Wins $20K for Climate Education Work

Sean McFadden doesn't lecture about climate change from the front of the classroom. He hands his students at Eagle Academy for Young Men II the tools to understand it themselves.

The Brooklyn science teacher equips his students with infrared thermometers to measure heat patterns and hydroponics systems to grow plants without soil. It's climate education you can touch, test, and take home.

His approach just earned him the 2026 Julian Robertson Award for Excellence in Teaching and a $20,000 unrestricted cash prize. The recognition comes as New York prepares to mandate climate education across all schools, making McFadden's work a blueprint for thousands of teachers.

McFadden serves as co-chair of the New York City Department of Education's Climate Education Leadership Team. In that role, he helps shape how the entire city approaches teaching students about our changing planet.

His focus goes beyond climate science alone. At Eagle Academy, a school serving young men of color, McFadden mentors the next generation of environmental leaders from communities often hit hardest by climate impacts.

The hands-on approach makes abstract concepts concrete. When students use real scientific instruments and growing systems, they're not just learning about climate science. They're becoming scientists themselves.

The Ripple Effect

McFadden's classroom innovations are spreading far beyond Brooklyn. As New York gears up to require climate education statewide, his teaching methods offer a proven model for engaging students in environmental science.

His work demonstrates that effective climate education doesn't require expensive labs or complicated equipment. It needs teachers willing to put tools in students' hands and trust them to explore.

The timing matters too. As climate challenges grow more urgent, McFadden is training young people who will design the solutions. His students aren't just learning about environmental problems. They're developing the skills to solve them.

Other teachers can nominate their colleagues for next year's Robertson Awards through October 31. The recognition shines a light on educators doing transformative work, often without fanfare.

McFadden proves that inspiring the next generation of climate leaders starts with one teacher, one classroom, and one student at a time.