Tena Green

Advocating for equity and inclusion is second nature for Tena Green. Tena believes that everyone has a right to be included in society, whether through individual behaviors or public policy, and has made this belief her life’s work. During her time as an IEP Facilitator with the Colorado Department of Education, Tena successfully partnered with teachers, parents, and students to develop comprehensive learning plans that met the unique academic and socio-emotional needs of each child throughout Colorado. Sheis a proud Mom of 3 boys that attend PSD schools. Her oldest is on an IEP, her middle son receives services on a 504 and her youngest has an ALP. Tena is a former Board Member for The Arc of Larimer County, an organization that advocates for the interests of individuals with disabilities; she is particularly active in her community around the issues of equitable and inclusive housing. Most recently, Tena has co-developed a regular podcast, Love and Inclusion in the Real World, in which she and her co-host Hettie explore issues of equity and inclusion in families, communities, schools, and other arenas. Together her and Hettie also have an Advocating and Consultant business as well, IDEA. She strives to live by this quote by Lisa Friedman: “Inclusion is a mindset. It is a way of thinking. It is not a program that we run or a classroom in our school or a favor we do for someone. Inclusion is who we are. It is who we must strive to be.”