Original story published by U.S. Green Building Council on March 3, 2025.
Deisy Verdinez / PR & Communications Director – U.S. Green Building Council
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March 3, 2025 – (Orlando, Fla.) Today, the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Schools National Network (GSNN) announced the 2025 Best of Green Schools Awards recipients, recognizing top schools, school districts, lawmakers and others who work to advance safer and more resilient schools across communities. Among this year’s recipients are Denver Public Schools, a K–12 school in Colombia and the sustainability director for the Austin Independent School District.
The annual recognition was announced at the 2025 Green Schools Conference in Orlando in collaboration with GSNN. The Green Schools Conference is the only event to unite everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools. The two-day event provides a platform for the green schools community that inspires and facilitates the movement’s progress.
“This year’s Best of Green Schools awardees are individuals and organizations dedicated to improving our schools and creating healthy and resilient learning environments,” said Anisa Heming, director at the Center for Green Schools. “The awards are an opportunity to spotlight how anyone can make an impact in their community and support students and educators. We are grateful for all those who believe in the importance of ensuring that all schools are healthy for people and for the planet and join us in achieving that mission.”
“The 2025 Best of Green Schools honorees are proof that sustainability in education is not just a goal, it’s a movement,” said Ileana Albareda, executive director at GSNN. “Their work is transforming schools into healthier, more resilient places for students to learn and thrive. They are part of a growing network of changemakers, and their leadership is inspiring others to take action, push boundaries and create lasting impact.”
This year’s Best of Green Schools winners represent some of the most engaged individuals and organizations in the green schools movement. In 2024, the Center for Green Schools reached over 2,000 people with its educational events, including 600 unique individuals from over 350 school districts. It published an online School Health Research Library and several new publications and briefings, including individual school health research highlights, a School District Indoor Air Quality Management Plan Toolkit and executive-level briefings on decarbonization and climate resilience planning.
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Business Leader — Texas Disposal Systems
Eco Academy, an education program of Texas Disposal Systems, is designed to help minimize waste in Central Texas schools by educating K–12 students about trash, recycling and composting options on their campuses. The program provides training, curriculum, signage and other educational materials for staff, administrators and students to make recycling fun and enable real-world application. Each school’s participation is documented, and diversion data is made available.
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