U.S. Department of Education
Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202
MEDIA ADVISORY

EVENT DATES: August 18-22, 2014

CONTACT: Press Office, (202) 401-1576 or press@ed.gov          

Education Officials Begin Second Annual Green Strides Best Practices Tour – ‘Healthy Schools, High-Achieving Students’

Visit includes ten schools in West Virginia and Kentucky, and two listening sessions

Senior Department of Education officials will visit ten schools and conduct two listening sessions in West Virginia and Kentucky from August 18-22 as part of the second annual Green Strides Best Practices Tour of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.  Healthy Schools, High-Achieving Students is theme of this year’s tour, which will focus on school environmental health.

U.S. Department of Education Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach Lucy Johnson and U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools  Director Andrea Falken will kick off the tour in Petersburg, West Virginia.  They will be joined by numerous federal, state and local health and education officials along the route to Kentucky and back through West Virginia.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced this year’s tour legs at an annual ceremony honoring 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School and District Sustainability Awardees.  “Healthy, safe and sustainable facilities combined with wellness practices like outdoor physical activity, nutritious food, and hands-on environmental learning form a strong foundation for a quality education,” Secretary Duncan said. “U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are leading the way in incorporating best practices.”

The tours will include visits to school buildings and grounds and conversations with students and teachers regarding environmental education and project-based learning, and discussions with key partners and health personnel. The listening sessions in each state will allow practitioners and experts to share best practices. In coming months, the tour will also visit U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools in Florida, Colorado, Minnesota and 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. View the list of all selected schools and districts and summaries of each of the 57 honorees.  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 participants follows:

Monday, August 18

3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ET       Tour Petersburg Elementary School, 333 Rig Street, Petersburg, West Virginia

Who:

Andrea Suarez Falken, director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Lucy Johnson, deputy assistant secretary for rural outreach, U.S. Department of Education

Tuesday, August 19

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET       Listening Session in Charleston - W Virginia State Capitol Building 6, Room 353, Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, West Virginia 
1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.  ET       Tour Wyoming County Career and Technical Center, W Virginia 97, Pineville, West Virginia

Who:

Andrea Suarez Falken, director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Lucy Johnson, deputy assistant secretary for rural outreach, U.S. Department of Education
James E. Harmon, regional director, Special Nutrition Programs, USDA
Jeff Schwartz, director of education and workforce development programs, Appalachian Regional Commission
Mike Green, vice president, West Virginia Board of Education
Lloyd Jackson, member, West Virginia Board of Education
Dewayne Duncan, executive director, West Virginia Department of Education

Wednesday, August 20

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET     Tour Northern Elementary School, 3600 Cincinnati Road, Georgetown, Kentucky
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET       Tour Georgetown Middle School, 730 S Hamilton Street, Georgetown, Kentucky
2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET         Listening Session, Tour and Discussion, Big Ass Fans, Headquarters, 2348 Innovation Drive, Lexington, Kentucky

Who:
Andrea Suarez Falken, director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Steve Hortin, southeast school nutrition branch chief, USDA
Kentucky State Rep. Jim DeCesare
Kentucky State Rep. Brian Linder
Kentucky State Rep. Ryan Quarles
Mayor Billy Swartz of Stamping Ground

Thursday, August 21

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. ET        Tour Rosa Parks Elementary, 1251 Beaumont Centre Lane, Lexington
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET      Tour Wellington Elementary School, 3280 Keithshire Way, Lexington
1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET          Tour Locust Trace AgriScience Farm, 3591 Leestown Road, Lexington

Who:

Andrea Suarez Falken, director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Steve Hortin, southeast school nutrition branch chief, USDA
Janey Thornton, USDA deputy under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services
Kentucky Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray

Friday, August 22

9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET       Tour Hilltop Elementary School, 2 Ram Drive, Wheeling, West Virginia
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET     Tour Cameron Middle-High School, 61 Maple Avenue Cameron, West Virginia
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET        Tour Eastwood Elementary School, 677 201st Memorial Hwy, Morgantown, West Virginia

Who:

Andrea Suarez Falken, director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Lorna Rosenberg, green and healthy schools coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III