Dianne Thompson, Kent-Meridian High School’s environmental science teacher, was selected as a 2010 Earth Hero at School by King County Executive Dow Constantine. Nominees are selected for their work to raise environmental awareness in their schools.
Thompson will receive the award at a ceremony on April 29.
Thompson is receiving the award because she encouraged her students to tackle projects that would benefit the environment. As a result, the students designed and implemented a plan to rehabilitate the school’s courtyard into a wildlife habitat and outdoor classroom earlier this year. The National Environmental Education Foundation awarded a grant to fund the project. The courtyard was renovated from two strips of grass and a sidewalk into an area with benches, plants, and birdhouses. The outdoor classroom is so popular that teachers must reserve time for their classes to use it.
Additionally, Thompson and her students started a recycling and composting project at the school to reduce the amount of food waste discarded each day. Students worked with the principal and kitchen staff to develop the program. The students then created PowerPoint presentations and posters to educate their peers and the school staff about the importance of recycling. The school’s carpentry teacher and his students built recycling stations for the cafeteria. Students in the environmental science classes volunteered their time during lunches to help students sort the recyclable products. As a result, lunch waste was reduced by two-thirds.
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