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E3 Washington Expands Partnerships with Education Associations



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E3 Washington Expands Partnerships with Education Associations


e3 washington expands partnerships with education associations
E3 Washington continues to expand its partnerships with professional education associations around Washington State thanks to funding from the Boeing Company and the USEPA Office of Environmental Education. Specifically, E3 Washington is working closely with lead school districts to increase their capacity and curriculum focus on environmental and sustainability education and systems thinking curriculum.
E3 Washington Grants Manager, Chuck Lennox and E3 Board President-Elect Tom Hulst recently met with Dr. Jana Carlisle, Executive Director and Chris Barron, Communications Director of the Partnership for Learning (PFL) to discuss the value of environmental and sustainability education in our state and the E3 Washington Pilot Project. As a follow-up, Chris posted this update in a recent PFL newsletter featuring E3 Washington. In a question and answer session with Chuck Lennox, Grants Manager for E3 Washington, Chuck explained some of the background to the Boeing Grant to support school districts in implementing the Washington State Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan (WSESLP) “Once the WSESLP was completed, the question arose "how can this plan be implemented?" Plans can easily sit on a shelf and not be utilized to their potential. The key to implementation was leadership. We asked, "What school districts in the state are leaders in this field and what can we do to support and grow that leadership?"
Tom Hulst, formerly a school district & educational service district administrator, commented that “Both the ESE and Systems Thinking fields are interdisciplinary, real-world approaches, linking classroom subjects to hands on learning with businesses, community organizations, agencies, tribes, parks, zoos, museums and other field experiences. Through E3 Washington we are connecting the leadership in both fields. The possibilities are enormous for the impact on learning across all grade levels and subject areas.”
E3 Washington and Margaret Tudor of Pacific Education Institute also recently met with Jonelle Adams, Executive Director of The Washington State School Directors Association. The mission of this organization is to provide leadership, advocacy and services to support public school directors’ (school boards) efforts to improve student learning. The three groups discussed ways that that they could mutually support each other’s efforts and help school districts in implementing new initiatives around environmental and sustainability education in the state.


  1. Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) Winners Announced


presidential innovation award for environmental educators (piaee) winners announced
Ralph Harrison, one of ten finalists across the country, has been instrumental in creating a unique and innovative approach to high school environmental education, science and physical education at the Science and Math Institute (SAMi). He utilizes the outdoors, experiential, and place-based learning in all aspects of his curriculum. As a direct result of the Outdoor Education program developed and started by Ralph, many students continue participating in the environmental field through environmental, conservation, science activities and projects. He is very enthusiastic about extending environmental education beyond the classroom to actively demonstrate and teach about the natural world with his students. Through his innovative teaching approaches, students learn to collect data for forest certification and participate annually in the “bio-blitz” inventory of the Point Definace Park area, as well as numerous scientific studies with local Universities and Point Defiance Zoo. Ralph was a member of the team of inaugurating educators who opened his district’s first STEM focused high school. Prior to that, he was one of ten teachers to open the groundbreaking and award-winning Tacoma School of the Arts. Through his interactive methods, students experience daily hikes while maintaining field notes and sketches of their observations and project based classes that are tailored to meet diverse learning needs. Ralph’s students learn environmental education through integrated work in science, natural histories, civic responsibility and connection with community that has a lasting impact and skill set that is carried into their future studies and endeavors.
Web Link: http://www2.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators-piaee-winners


  1. Four Washington School Recognized in First Ever US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Ceremony


four washington school recognized in first ever us department of education green ribbon schools ceremony
Our junior high was recognized for excellence in sustainability education with the first ever National Green Schools award. Our students promote a healthy life style through an excellent health and fitness curriculum which includes outdoor use of numerous trails through beautiful wooded acreage, energy conservation and reducing food waste spearheaded by the school's Green Team, and a core curriculum that includes a comprehensive unit on how to preserve and protect the Puget Sound. Students develop a deep awareness of the importance of environmental health, take action in sharing what they learn with audiences beyond the school, and engage directly with various stakeholders. Our field experience on a Washington State ferry introduces students to scientists and business people who all have a vested interest in the health of the Puget Sound. Stewardship is the goal of our sustainability curriculum as we work to educate our students in making informed decisions to preserve and protect our Northwest environment." - Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent for the Tahoma School District Senior Administration officials honored the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) this morning at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. Among the inaugural honorees are 78 schools that represent 29 states and the District of Columbia. The program was developed by the Department with support from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), several other agencies and dozens of non-profit stakeholders.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined White House CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin to address the honorees and congratulate them on their achievements. Representatives from winning schools received plaques and banners in recognition of their high achievement in saving energy, reducing costs, providing healthy learning spaces, and offering education geared toward the challenges of the 21st century.

"These schools represent a broad portfolio of urban, suburban, and rural communities, working to provide students with a high-quality, well-rounded education, healthy living, clean environments and best practices for reducing our environmental impact," said Secretary Duncan. "Green Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and deserve the spotlight for embodying strong examples of innovative learning and civic engagement."
"By embracing 'green' these schools have demonstrated their commitment to incorporating environmental practices in education," said White House CEQ Chair Sutley. "The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools winners honored today are taking bold steps to increase environmental awareness that will have an impact on the health of America's students and create the next generation of environmental stewards."
The U.S. Department of Education released a document with highlights from the 2012 honorees. Along with the awards, Secretary Duncan also announced the first installment of the Green Strides Webinar Series to help all schools move toward reduced environmental impact, improved health and effective sustainability literacy — the three 'Pillars' of the Green Ribbon award.

"Every child should have a safe and healthy place to learn, and every parent should have confidence that sending their child to school in the morning doesn't mean exposing them to environmental threats," said EPA Administrator Jackson. "These Green Ribbon Schools are making our schools healthier places to learn, and giving students hands-on STEM learning opportunities that show them how the environment connects to their own lives. Those experiences will be valuable to their future, and ours."


"The Green Ribbon Schools program is a wonderful example of our overall National Prevention Strategy to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life," said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Benjamin. "These schools show us how we can make health and wellness a part of our children's everyday lives."
In 2012, more than 350 schools completed applications to some 30 state education agencies. Schools will have another opportunity to apply to their state education agencies for their nominations to the Department this winter. Next year's program criteria will be published this summer for states to develop those competitions and will require state agencies to submit their nominees in early 2013. Fourteen states have already indicated their intent to nominate schools in the next round of the competition.



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