Green Schools Awards Helps Florida Environmental Schools Shine
-- Program to recognize environmental achievements in Florida education --
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reminding schools and teachers they have until May 31, 2009 to participate in the first annual Governor’s Serve to Preserve: Green Schools Awards. The program is officially open to all Florida schools. Applications will be reviewed during the summer with the winners announced in October 2009. Currently, more than 220 applications have been submitted for the awards.
Continuing a commitment to preserve Florida’s natural resources, Governor Charlie Crist joined Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole and Florida Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith to announce the Governor’s Serve to Preserve: Green Schools Awards at the State Capitol last month on Earth Day.
“I challenge schools and students across the state to start putting their ideas together to ‘green’ their schools and communities. I look forward to the innovative ideas that are sure to come,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “These awards will be a great way to celebrate what our students learn in the classroom to help protect the state’s natural resources.”
The Governor’s Serve to Preserve: Green Schools Awards is made possible through a partnership with DEP, DOE, the Governor’s Energy Office, the Collins Center’s Sustainable Florida Program, the Florida Education Foundation, the Governor’s Volunteer Florida Foundation and the Florida Association of School Administrators. One goal of the award is to celebrate the positive effect Florida’s students have in protecting the state’s natural resources.
“In order to simplify the process, all applications for the awards will be taken online,” said Greg Ira, DEP’s Director of Environmental Education. “DEP encourages students from throughout the state of Florida to participate in this education recognition program.”
The Green Schools Awards will recognize the efforts of students, teachers, classrooms, schools and school districts in creating healthy, efficient and productive places for learning. One award will be presented for each of the five recipient groups which include students, classrooms, teachers, schools, and school districts.
Eligible projects will be categorized in four themes:
1. Green learning environments including indoor and outdoor facilities.
2. Exemplary green curriculum or teacher professional development programs.
3. Green service learning projects.
4. Green policies or partnerships.
For more information on the Governor’s Serve to Preserve: Green School Awards and to complete a nomination application go to: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed
This article originally published on May 14, 2009.
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