Paul Bocko, Ph.D. is Faculty in the AUNE Department of Education. He teaches in the Experienced Educator and Integrated Learning (elementary, early childhood, and special education licenses) programs. He is the Concentration Director for Place-based Education and Educating for Sustainability in the Experienced Educator Program. He serves as the Internship Coordinator for the Integrated Learning Program. Research and special interests include sustainability education, place-based education, place-based social justice, equity in education, sociocultural theory, reconstructionism, and problem-based learning. Paul also serves as the Director of the Antioch Center for School Renewal (ACSR), the professional and community development service division of the department. He is a Critical Skills Master Teacher and School Reform Initiative National Facilitator. He is the Project Manager for the Horatio Colony Nature Preserve, 645 acres of uplands, wetlands, and diverse woodlands in Keene, NH. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College of Education in 2022. His research focus is on how teachers guide K-12 students to design solutions for real-world problems as they fully participate as citizens and ensure that current and future generations live meaningful lives and advance racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.
Paul Bocko, Ph.D.
Antioch University New England
Educational History
- Ph.D., Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies (TECS), Teacher Education and School Improvement (TESI), February 2022. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
- MEd, Department of Organization and Management, Administration and Supervision with Principal Certification, May 2008. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH
- MS, Environmental Studies Department, Environmental Education, May 1995. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH
- BA, Sociology, May 1992 University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
- Sociocultural and reconstructionist theories of education
- Educating for sustainability
- Problem-based learning
- Thinking in systems
- Place-based education
- Environmental and nature-based education
- Teacher education and development
- Professional learning communities
- Service-learning
- Bocko, P. (2018). Synergy between problem-based learning and sustainability education. Manuscript in preparation.
- Bocko, P. (2017). Synergy between problem-based learning and educating for sustainability: A review of the literature. In R. Papa, & A. Saiti (Eds.), Building a sustainable future in education: Brick by brick (Chapter 8). New York, NY: Springer.
- Bocko, P. (2014). Leverage point: The shifting landscape of teacher evaluation. In D. Sobel, P. Bocko, & S. J. Gentile (Lead Authors), National action plan for educating for sustainability (pp. 18-19). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Sobel, D., Bocko, P., & Gentile, S. J. (Lead Authors). (2014). National action plan for educating for sustainability. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Bocko, P., & Saba, R. (Eds.) (2000). Rachel Marshall Outdoor Learning Laboratory teacher resource book (2nd ed.). Keene, NH: Antioch New England Institute.
- Bocko, P., & Denehy, S. (1998). Pondering vernal pools. Connect, Teachers’ Innovations in K-8 Science and Math, 11(3).
- Nature-, place-, and STEAM education professional development in the Warwick, MA Community School forest. Fall 2020 to Present.
- Nature- and place-based education professional development at Guilford Central School, VT. Fall 2020 to Present.
- Coordination of the Inside Outside Conference, Promising Practices in Nature- and Place-based Education for grades K-8, Keene, NH, Fall 2017 to Present
- “Place-based Education and Outdoor Learning Labs”, Student Conservation Association, Massachusetts Corps, Hawley, MA and New Hampshire Corps, Allenstown, NH, 2016-Present.
- “Critical Skills Level I Institute”, Antioch Center for School Renewal, Green School, Bali, Indonesia, September 2013, February 2014.
- World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) Subtheme Co-Chair: Place-based Education, Prague, CZ, March 2022.
- International Program Committee, 11th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), Prague, CZ, 2020-2022.
- Green School Conference (Green Schools National Network) Steering Committee, 2019 to Present.
- Board Member, Wantastiquet to Monadnock Trail Coalition, 2019 to Present.
- Ashuelot River Park Advisory Board, City of Keene, NH, 2017 to Present.
- Member, Monadnock Region (NH) Place-based Educators, 2014 to Present.
- Coordinator, Science Professional Learning Community, Collaborative for Educational Services, Northampton, MA, 2013-2014.
- Organizer, Pioneer Valley Teacher Leadership Network, Collaborative for Educational Services, Northampton, MA, 2011-2012.
- Member, Curriculum Directors Professional Learning Community, Collaborative for Educational Services, Northampton, MA, 2009-2013.
Faculty,
Education
Director,
Antioch Center for School Renewal
Project Manager,
Horatio Colony Nature Preserve
CONTACT INFORMATION
Courses Taught
- Place-based Teaching & Learning
- Place-based Education
- Ecology of Imagination
- Principles of Sustainability
- Real World Sustainability
- The Learning-Centered School