U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Director Andrea Falken, accompanied by various federal, state, and local officials, will visit schools and one postsecondary institution in Philadelphia and Easton area in Pennsylvania Sept. 27-29 as part of the third annual Green Strides Tour of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program. Real-World Learning is the theme of this year’s tour.
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. announced this year’s tour at an annual ceremony in July honoring the 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees in Washington, D.C. The tours will include visits to school buildings and grounds, conversations with students and teachers regarding environmental education and project-based learning, and discussions with key facilities and health personnel. The discussion session will allow practitioners and experts to share innovative practices.
In 2013, the tour traveled to 11 states to engage in 40 events under an “Education Built to Last” facilities theme, spanning Alabama, New England, New York and New Jersey, California, Oregon and Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. In 2014, it covered another six states and conducted 46 events with a “Healthy Schools, High-Achieving Students” theme, encompassing Boulder and Fort Collins, Colorado to Palm Beach and Broward, Florida, from West Virginia to Kentucky, from Prior Lake Savage and Waconia, Minnesota to Maryland.
The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Awardees are recognized for reducing their environmental impact, including energy use, waste and water; creating healthy learning environments and fostering wellness practices; and providing effective environmental education that prepares students to succeed in the 21st century.
More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all schools to meet the criteria for the award can be found here.
An agenda of tour sites and some participants follows:
Tuesday, Sept. 27
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Tour of Albert M. Greenfield Elementary School, 2200 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Tour of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 W. Willow Grove Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Tour of Harriton High School, 600 N. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. – Tour of Radnor Middle School, 150 Louella Ave., Wayne, Pennsylvania
Who to expect:
Andrea Suarez Falken, director, U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
David Bauman, director, Pennsylvania Green Ribbon Schools, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Michael Walsh, deputy secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
James Liou, William Penn Foundation (Greenfield only)
Gamal Sherif, ProgressED (Greenfield only)
Katie Bartolotta, policy and program manager, Delaware Valley Green Building Council (Greenfield only)
Fran Burns, chief operating officer, Philadelphia School District (Greenfield only)
Megan Garner, sustainability program manager, Philadelphia School District (Greenfield only)
Abby Rambo, community relations director, Office of Rep. Brian Sims (Greenfield only)
Lorna Rosenberg, green and healthy schools coordinator, Region 3 EPA
Wednesday, Sept. 28
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Tour of Charles F. Patton Middle School, 760 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Tour of Westtown School, 975 Westtown Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Tour of the School District of Jenkintown, 325 Highland Ave., Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – Tour of Goodnoe Elementary, 298 Frost Lane, Newtown, Pennsylvania
Who to expect:
Andrea Suarez Falken, director, U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
David Bauman, director, Pennsylvania Green Ribbon Schools, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Kim Martinez, senior regional education manager for the Mid-Atlantic, National Wildlife Federation
Lorna Rosenberg, green and healthy schools coordinator, Region 3 EPA
Thursday, Sept. 29
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Tour of Broughal Middle School, 114 West Morton St., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – 2016 Tour Discussion Session, Broughal Middle School, 114 West Morton St., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Tour of Nazareth Area Middle School, 94 Friedenstahl Ave., Nazareth, Pennsylvania
2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Tour of Northampton Community College, Monroe Campus, 2411 Pennsylvania 715, Tannersville, Pennsylvania
3:30 p.m. Campus Reception and Celebration, Northampton Community College, Monroe Campus, 2411 Pennsylvania 715, Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Who to expect:
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera (Broughal only)
Andrea Suarez Falken, director, U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
David Bauman, director, Pennsylvania Green Ribbon Schools, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Heidi Kunka, director, Central Pennsylvania Region, U.S. Green Building Council
Holly Shields, regional education manager for the Mid-Atlantic, National Wildlife Federation
Lorna Rosenberg, green and healthy schools coordinator, Region 3 EPA
Lorin Bradley, school board president, Nazareth Area School District (Nazareth only)
Dr. Dennis Riker, superintendent, Nazareth Area School District (Nazareth only)
Pete Ruggiero, executive vice president, Crayola Global Operations (Nazareth only)
John C. Capobianco, magisterial district judge (Nazareth only)
Tina Smith, president, Bath Regional Chamber of Commerce (Nazareth only)
Laura Dunne, president PTSA (Nazareth only)