School administrators, as much as teachers and students, need to participate in education. This section of the Sustainable School Design identifies valuable training resources available in the Great Lakes Region and around the country. There is a need for education in this rapidly expanding area of design. This section focuses on teacher training, curricula, college and graduate level programs, community outreach, student-led community projects, and admistrator education.

Sustainable schools become interactive tools for entire communities when they incorporate energy, water, and material efficiency and economics. The lesson opportunities are passive and active, formal and informal, and appropriate for adults as well as children. Entire neighborhoods can benefit from the examples being set by a school, or from the exploratory process of planning for a sustainable school.

Curricula identified in this topic hub will reflect the following needs:

• Professional development opportunities for administration and operations staff
• Teacher education
• Classroom curricula for grades K-12
• College and graduate level programs
• Community education/outreach for neighborhoods
• Student-led community projects

This section of the topic hub offers a selection of educational tools for teachers, as well as for professional development and community outreach. Links to existing sustainable schools and sustainable development tools will be provided. Sustainability is a broad topic that covers energy, air quality, life-cycle of products, product stewardship, water quality, waste management, HVAC, and pest management. It includes the relationship of the school to the community, transportation, green products, and much more. Where appropriate, links to other topic hubs will be recommended.

Integrating these concepts into a school's curricula may encourage future generations to value environmental awareness and encourage the transfer of this awareness through their community. Examples of student-led community projects will be provided in this topic hub to serve as an example for other schools attempting to create similar volunteer-based student-led projects.

For example, in Pontiac, Illinois, Pontiac High School, leads a community effort to spray paint and mark storm sewers that drain into the Vermilion River. Each year these students organize and participate in this effort, working with middle school students and members of the community. They have created a stenciling program that they gladly share with other school districts. Additionally, they have a crayon recycling program, and each year they explore other opportunities to improve sustainability at both their school and within their community.

Similar examples will be identified as they become known.

Additional curricula resources are provided at the bottom of the list on the right side of this page.

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