199: From Training to Transformation: Evaluating the Impact of Sustainability Education on Pre-Service Teachers’ Socio-Ecological Literacy and Pedagogical Confidence.

This session presents a quasi-experimental mixed-methods study evaluating a Sustainability Education (SE) training program for pre-service teachers at a large Midwestern research university. The program aims to enhance participants’ socio-ecological literacy, teaching self-efficacy, and willingness to teach sustainability topics. Grounded in transformative and student-centered pedagogies, the training incorporates critical, place-based, and interdisciplinary approaches. The evaluation includes pre- and post-surveys for treatment and comparison groups, along with post-training focus groups. Quantitative data are analyzed using STATA, and qualitative data are thematically analyzed with MAXQDA. This presentation will share the evaluation design, implementation, and emerging findings from Spring 2025. Aligned with AEA’s 2025 theme, “Innovating for Impact,” the study highlights the role of rigorous evaluation in addressing environmental and social challenges through teacher education. The session will also explore lessons learned, measurement challenges, and implications for future program improvement and evaluation practice.