For immediate release
March 28, 2012
Kathy Toelkes, Director of Communications, 785-296-4876
Three Kansas Schools Nominated for Green Ribbon School Awards
TOPEKA—Education Commissioner Dr. Diane DeBacker announced today the names of the three Kansas schools that will represent Kansas in the inaugural Green Ribbon Schools awards program. The nominations have been sent to the U.S. Department of Education, where the winners of this prestigious award will be determined. The national Green Ribbon Schools award recipients will be announced on Earth Day in April 2012.
The Kansas schools nominated for the award are Erie High School in USD 101 Erie-Galesburg, Brookwood Elementary School in USD 512 Shawnee Mission, and Eisenhower High School in USD 265 Goddard. The nominated schools will be recognized at the Kansas Green Schools conference July 27 at Farley Elementary School in Topeka.
“Each of these schools are making great strides in holistically addressing the three pillars of the Green Ribbon Schools program - energy efficient buildings, healthy students and school environment, and environmental literacy of all graduates,” DeBacker said. “It is a pleasure to nominate them for this honor.”
The Kansas State Department of Education partnered with the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) to develop and host the Kansas Green Schools application and build a state review team to select schools for nomination. DeBacker said all of the Kansas applicants were quality examples of schools that were making strides toward a comprehensive approach to environmental education. Schools were nominated based on their demonstration of significant progress toward all three pillars of the Green Schools program.
The Green Ribbon Schools program is part of a larger U.S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about practices proven to result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security. Schools receiving a Green Ribbon Schools award will be invited to participate in a national recognition ceremony.
###