U.S. Department of Education

Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office

400 Maryland Ave., S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20202

MEDIA ADVISORY

EVENT DATE: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 

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

State and Local Representatives to Join Officials from Five Federal Agencies and the White House for Visit to Maryland Schools as part of Annual Green Strides Best Practices Tour – ‘Healthy Schools, High-Achieving Students’

Senior officials from five federal agencies and the White House, accompanied by state and local officials, will visit Maryland schools in Severna Park, Ellicott City, and Silver Spring on Wednesday, Oct. 8 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 the theme of this year’s tour.

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, adding that U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are leading the way in incorporating best practices.

The tours have included visits to school buildings and grounds and conversations with students and teachers regarding environmental education and project-based learning, and discussions with key facilities and health personnel. The listening sessions in each state have allowed practitioners and experts to share best practices. After beginning in West Virginia and Kentucky from Aug. 18 to Aug. 22, the tour then went to south Florida Sept. 4-5, Colorado Sept. 16-17, Minnesota Sept. 23-24, and concludes this year Oct. 8 with Maryland school visits.

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 and list of participants follows:

Wednesday, October 8

9:30 –10:30 a.m. ET                Folger McKinsey Elementary School, 175 Arundel Beach Road, Severna Park

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET       Dunloggin Middle School, 9129 Northfield Road, Ellicott City

1-2:15 p.m. ET                        Listening session, Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia

3-4 p.m. ET                             Francis Scott Key Middle School, 910 Schindler Drive, Silver Spring

Who:

Andrea Suarez Falken, Director of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

Adam Honeysett, Director for State and Local Engagement, U.S. Department of Education 

Lillian Lowery, Superintendent of Schools, Maryland Department of Education

Lorna Rosenberg, Green and Healthy Schools Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III

Shira Miller, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Laura Petes, White House Office of Technology Policy

Crystal McDonald, policy adviser, U.S. Department of Energy

Shannon Sprague, Chesapeake Bay Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Lisa Turner, Chief Communications Officer, Food and Nutrition Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Scott Carter, Congressional Relations Chief, Food and Nutrition Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture

David Harrity, Chief of Network Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Education

Camsie McAdams, Deputy STEM Director, U.S. Department of Education

Jennifer Padgett, Publications Manager, ED Green Team, U.S. Department of Education

Kyle Flood, Social Media Manager, ED Green Team, U.S. Department of Education

Tami Fitzgerald, Teacher Ambassador Fellow, U.S. Department of Education

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