School of Education alumni Leslie Taylor and Katie Ware are a dynamic duo.
Taylor (M.S.A. ’10) is principal at Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh. Ware (M.A.T. ’03) is an assistant principal at Wiley.
They learned Friday (Feb. 19) that their school was one of two in North Carolina nominated to represent the state in the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools award program.
The U.S. Department of Education created the Green Ribbon Schools Award program in 2011 to honor schools that reduce environmental impact and costs; improve the health and wellness of schools, students and staff; and provide environmental education, which teaches many disciplines, and is especially good at effectively incorporating STEM, civic skills and green career pathways.
Sandy Grove Middle School in Hoke County was also nominated.
The schools were nominated for their exemplary efforts to provide a healthy learning environment and a strong environmental education program.
“It’s easy to talk about environmental responsibility but it’s another thing to practice it, said State Superintendent June Atkinson in announcing the nominations. “These schools are doing just that by providing green learning environments while teaching students how to minimize their ecological footprints.”
National award recipients will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in July.
More information about the Green Ribbon Schools Award program is available here.
The state Department of Public Instruction’s announcement is here.