Harboring Change: Ms. Ng Encourages Students to Take Action at Sandy Hook

At the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) in Highlands, New Jersey, Clare Ng is more than a science teacher. She’s a visionary environmental educator shaping future leaders through action-driven, community-rooted learning. Whether she’s leading students in the field to observe wild harbor seals or championing sustainability initiatives that extend far beyond her classroom walls, Clare’s work is a model for how environmental education can ignite real-world impact. 

Teaching for Tomorrow 

Clare currently teaches two dual-enrollment courses at MAST: Environmental Science and Sustainable Societies. These college-level classes cultivate critical thinking, scientific literacy, and a deep sense of environmental responsibility in students. By embracing student-led, self-paced blended learning, Clare encourages her students to explore national and local environmental, social, and economic challenges – and integrates innovative technologies and collaborative approaches. 

Her integration of the Wayfinder Society Student Hub in the classroom has helped bridge the gap between just learning and actually doing.  

“As a science educator, I’m always looking for ways to connect classroom learning to real-world impact. The Student Hub class code offered exactly that—a space for my students to explore environmental issues, track their own sustainable actions, and develop a stronger sense of agency. What I valued most was how the platform empowered students to take ownership of their learning. They weren’t just learning about sustainability—they were living it.”  – Clare Ng 

To encourage students to take action, Clare gave her students the freedom to explore tasks aligned with their personal values and interests. This student-driven approach led to more meaningful engagement, as students selected actions that resonated with them – from reducing plastic waste to advocating for policy change to sharing the message with other community members. She carved out classroom time for reflection and peer-sharing, which helped foster a space for her students to connect with each other and share inspiration. One of the biggest takeaways for her students was realizing that small actions, especially when taken collectively, can drive meaningful environmental change. They also began to see themselves as part of a global movement toward sustainability – not just students completing assignments for a class grade. 

The Student Hub seamlessly supplements her curriculum by offering a real-world extension of the topics they are learning in Clare’s Sustainable Societies class (a 12th grade science elective at our school). In Clare’s own words, “It helps bridge the gap between learning and doing, making science feel personal, meaningful, and hopeful”. 

Community Science in Action 

With support from a Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant, Clare is advancing civic engagement and ocean literacy through a citizen science program focused on the harbor seals that overwinter at Sandy Hook, conveniently located near MAST’s campus. Her Marine Research students work directly with underserved middle schools in the area, delivering lessons on marine mammal biology that culminate in field trips to Sandy Hook. During the field trip, students collect real-time data in partnership with Save Coastal Wildlife, contributing to public research and gaining hands-on experience in environmental monitoring. 

For many years, Clare has partnered with Clean Ocean Action, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the ocean through science, education, and citizen engagement. With support from the Educator Mini-Grant, Clare is working to eliminate financial barriers—such as transportation costs—to ensure that middle school students from underserved communities like Asbury Park, Union Beach, and Keansburg can participate in the Beach Sweeps held at Sandy Hook. This hands-on environmental project not only educates students about plastic pollution and marine debris but also empowers them to take meaningful action by cleaning up the coastline and collecting data that can help shape future state and federal policies.

Paving the Way to a Sustainable School 

In 2023, Clare led MAST to earn the Sustainable Jersey for Schools Bronze Certification – a milestone that recognizes school-wide commitment to sustainability. From class-specific initiatives to green infrastructure improvements on campus, Clare’s leadership helped embed environmental responsibility into the fabric of the school. 

That same year, she was named Sustainable Jersey’s “Sustainability Hero” for November, celebrating her holistic contributions to environmental education, curriculum development, and youth empowerment. Her work includes launching new science curricula, developing summer science camps, and continually seeking ways to bring the community into the learning process. 

Impact Beyond the Classroom 

Beyond the classroom, Clare serves on the executive board of the New Jersey Marine Education Association (a regional chapter of NMEA), where she also served as President from 2011–2013. She is a Stakeholder Advisory Board member for the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, and a former executive board member of the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education. Her dedication to these professional communities has deepened her own learning and allowed her to mentor others while keeping students at the heart of the broader environmental movement. 

Clare’s work is a shining example of how that connection can transform education—and students’ lives—for the better.

Classroom photo with Clare’s 9th grade students in her Marine Biology course.