Green Ambassadors

Ten Schools Picked To Participate in State-Funded Training on “How to Go Green”

July 30, 2009 – Lawndale, CA, Environmental Charter High School (ECHS), an award-winning public charter school, is hosting the first Green Action Curriculum Conference August 13-14th 2009 at its Lawndale, California campus.

The purpose of the conference is to train and educate teachers and schools how to “Go Green” by implementing a model of environmental-action-themed academic programs developed at Environmental Charter High School. These programs, such as ECHS’ Green Ambassadors, help inspire and motivate students and thereby improve academic performance, particularly among challenged population segments.

Participating educators will learn how academic results at their schools can be improved by extending learning beyond the classroom walls through partnerships with community organizations, and using methods like outdoor education field trips to complement their current academic curricula.

California public schools with representatives registered to attend include Abraham Lincoln High School of San Francisco, Cypress Charter of Santa Cruz, SAVA of Sacramento, Chino Hills High School of Chino Hills, Crosswalk of Hesperia, Santa Monica High School of Santa Monica, Santiago of Corona, Thomas Jefferson of Los Angeles, Venice High School of Los Angeles, and Will Rogers Middle School of Fair Oaks.

The State of California Board of Education selected Environmental Charter High School to help other charter schools by sharing its instructional modules as a successful model for reducing achievement-gaps in California’s K-12 public education system. The program is funded by California’s Public Charter Schools Grant Program.

Among the scheduled speakers during the two day event are Alison Suffet-Diaz, Founder of ECHS, Sara Laimon, Director of ECHS’ Green Ambassadors program, and Dave Hendry, President of Real Curriculum, two–time winner of George Foster Peabody Award for documentary and educational video productions.

Environmental Charter High School: (http://www.echsonline.org) is a public charter high school serving Lawndale and surrounding communities in south Los Angles. ECHS offers a rigorous college prep program that is made relevant by guiding students to critically examine and take action to solve environmental challenges in their local communities. U.S. News & World Report ranked ECHS in the top 3% of high schools in the nation for its ability to deliver college-ready graduates from its community. The award-winning high school has outperformed 80% of comparable high schools in its state API ranking – a key performance indicator.

ECHS’ Green Ambassador Program (http://www.greenambassadors.org) is an environmental education program that empowers youth to be agents of change in their communities and the world. Through service learning, community partnerships, and cross-cultural and global exchange, the program fosters personal growth and leadership skills to help youth tackle the most critical environmental issues facing our planet. The program has been featured on the Sundance Film Channel, Elevate Film Festival, EPA Environmental Awards, the Local News Paper and NPR.

Press Invited
Journalists are invited and may wish to attend the Opening Session, and “Green Campus” tour from 9:00-10:30 a.m. on August 13, 2009 at Environmental Charter High School, 16315 Grevillea Avenue, Lawndale, CA. For opportunities to interview participants and students contact Dan Freyer at 310 849-0721 or dan@adwavez.com