Becca Bodenstein
Los Angeles,CA
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Sustainability Officer
Shalom Institute
09.2021 - Current
- Develop, train, support and evaluate all environmental sustainability programs, education and operations for all of Shalom Institute signature programs: Camp JCA Shalom, Camp Gesher, Shemesh Farms, Year Round Events and Rebuild.
- Areas of expertise: native plants of Southern California; composting and CA law, organic garden design; installation and maintenance; hydroponics; Jewish environmental text and practice; experiential education; Los Angeles Jewish community infrastructure including: JFED LA, philanthropic organizations, schools, synagogues and community centers.
- Experience with fire prevention and mitigation, solar, water conservation, beekeeping, climate communications, donor stewardship and grant writing.
- Excellent professional relationships with Los Angeles green businesses and non profits, as well as relationships with California State and Los Angeles County politicians.
- Attend all board meetings and served on the development subcommittee of Shalom Institute.
- Hired Shemesh Farms staff, designed and maintain new farm space; develop and maintain partnerships with Pepperdine University, City of Malibu, volunteers, donors, special needs partners, developed new products, turned the farm operation economically viable & composted over two tones of food and plant waste in 2024.
Upper Grade Dean + Director + Teacher
deToledo High School
08.2013 - 07.2021
- As Upper Grade Dean, worked with students, faculty and parents on a wide-array of academic, developmental, and experiential programs and policies including, but not limited to: academic advising, individual educational programs & 504 plans, discipline, class meetings, class trip, 12th grade retreat, grad nite, prom fundraisers, class gift, interpersonal counseling and mediation. Member of the student support team to address mental health, drug use, job preparedness, digital citizenship, diversity and inclusion, consent and sexual health and academic integrity. As part of the high school administration team, attend weekly meetings to discuss the on-going mission/vision of the school, marketing, fundraising, student achievement, program innovation and community challenges.
- Developed Senior Capstone curriculum for 12th grade students focusing on physical, financial, emotional and sexual health for life after high school. Managed the compulsory fourth quarter internships.
- Managed student learning using PowerSchool, Blackbaud, CampBrain and Rediker; Assess students and facilitate faculty collaboration using the Google suite of products.
- Director: Organic Garden and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program: Oversaw all programming, planting and maintenance in the garden; Organized and instituted a weekly CSA program as part of a greater emphasis on health, nutrition and general food awareness at the school. Worked with development department to raise $80,000 for an 18-month Environmental Fellow tasked with increasing environmental awareness and education on campus through experiential programming in the organic garden, on the trail, in the kitchen and via an all-campus environmental audit; Raised $10,000 from two grants which was applied to the garden building project, automatic watering system, tools, compost and tool shed.
- Teacher: Judaism and the Environment One semester course for 11th and 12th graders on the framework for how ancient and modern Jewish thought perceives the ethical treatment of land, water, food and animals.
- Summer Director: Responsible for managing $200,00 budget, all hires, marketing, payroll, report cards, programming and communication with families. Programs include summer school, enrichment, sports and camp programs. Designed and managed an experimental summer program "Camp EcoBotics" for middle school students utilizing and integrating the organic garden, maker space, kitchen and design labs.
Director, Jewish Life + Experiential Education
New Community Jewish High School
08.2007 - 06.2013
- Designed, managed and evaluated all experiential programs for the school: 9th grade introduction to high school retreat; 10th grade wilderness retreat; 11th grade civil rights journey through the American South; 12th grade community service trip to New Orleans; All-School Shabbaton (4 days, 500 people); wilderness and sports weekend retreats. Managed a budget of $500,000 to operate all seven programs.
- As part of the high school administration team, attended weekly meetings to discuss the on-going mission/vision of the school, marketing, fundraising, student achievement, program innovation and community challenges.
- Worked extensively with the Director of Global Jewish Education and Principal to create and operate student exchange programs in Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, Israel and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Designed curriculum, mapped itineraries, worked with vendors and travel agencies, managed budgets, partnered students with their exchange hosts, organized parent, student and teacher information sessions and chaperoned trips.
Education
Master of Arts - Experiential Education
American Jewish University
Bel Air, CA06-2007
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI12-2000
Skills
- Knowledge of Los Angeles Natural & Jewish Ecosystems
- Environmental Education & Sustainability Practices
- Administrative Leadership
- Community Engagement
- Curriculum Development
- Donor Stewardship
- Mentorship
- Facilitation & Public Speaking
- Retreat & Travel Programming
- Team-Oriented Leadership
Timeline
Chief Sustainability Officer
Shalom Institute
09.2021 - Current
Upper Grade Dean + Director + Teacher
deToledo High School
08.2013 - 07.2021
Director, Jewish Life + Experiential Education
New Community Jewish High School
08.2007 - 06.2013
Master of Arts - Experiential Education
American Jewish University
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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