Program Director Of Green Team, Scholars & Apprentices
Manchester Essex Regional Middle/High School
Spearheaded program which won coveted federal ED Department Green Ribbon Award as well as more than 60 other awards. Designed state, regional and national award-winning Environmental Education program; developed an implementation guide for other schools to develop their own programs. Trained over 300 students, educators and administrators in the Green Team and Scholars Models in 75 school systems, organizations, and townships on sustainable best practices. Designed and implemented district-wide edible schoolyard garden project with raised beds and greenhouses (combined area of 1950 sq./ft.); yields are used in school kitchens served to staff and students. Spearheaded K-12 green movement in district with Nutrition and Facilities Departments resulting in their full dedication to sustainability. Developed and instituted district-wide solid waste reduction strategies, considerably reducing waste up to 75% while saving as much as $12,000 annually. Completed extensive feasibility studies for campus solar and wind power projects. Teach comprehensive 21st century course combining environment, project management and leadership skills. Collaborate with over 30 local and statewide organizations for projects (e.g. plastic bag elimination, assessment of town buildings for fossil fuel consumption, ecosystem preservation, and renewable energy). Attend conferences with several collaborators and official partners e.g., MassDEP, MassRecycle, GreenSchools, Alliance for Climate Education, Green Ribbon Schools, the Department of Environmental Resources (DOER), and the US Green Building Council. Written and managed over $80,000 in grant funding for initiatives in solar power, indoor and outdoor food growing systems (hydroponics and aquaponics), recycling, and compost collection. Responsible for the “School Yard Sale,” where decommissioned school was dismantled and sold; 95% of the contents of the facility found new homes.