The Fayette County schools have received a 2020 District Sustainability Award as part of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program. The announcement came on Earth Day, April 22, from the U.S. Department of Education (USED), making Fayette County the first Kentucky school district to win a District Sustainability Award
Fayette County is one of 55 honorees nationwide and the only honoree from Kentucky public schools this year in the Green Ribbon Schools program, which recognizes innovative efforts to address the three pillars of the program: reducing environmental impact and utility costs, improving health and wellness and ensuring effective sustainability education. USED recognized 39 schools, 11 districts and five postsecondary institutions.
The district was nominated by the Kentucky Environmental Education Council.
“The national recognition is quite simply a reflection of our students’ remarkable passion for sustainability on their campuses and extraordinary, out-of-the-box ideas and achievements toward improving their school’s environmental impact, student and staff wellness and environmental literacy. Our students understand that climate change may be the biggest challenge of their generation and are unwavering in their commitment to find solutions locally and globally,” said Tresine Logsdon, the district’s energy and sustainability curriculum coordinator.
According to the USED report highlighting the 2020 honorees, Fayette County was recognized for working to empower students to lead the way through access to data, strategic community partnerships and national best practices.
In 2019, Fayette County developed Kentucky’s first school district sustainability and wellness strategic plan, “It’s About Sustainability.” The plan is a five-year roadmap that builds upon the district’s strengths, momentum, and years of sustainability progress in building efficiency, environmental literacy and student and staff wellness.
The plan seeks to improve the district’s stewardship of fiscal, natural and human resources by empowering students, staff members and families to improve sustainability and wellness on each school campus and reflects a future-oriented perspective on sustainability that is optimistic, emphasizes development and strengths, and focuses on human potential.
A Fayette County school has been honored as a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School every year since the inception of the program in 2012.
Visit USED’s website for the full list of selected schools, districts, colleges and universities, as well as their nomination packages. Visit YouTube to watch a video of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announcing Kentucky’s 2020 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award winners.
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