With like-minded school staff, share best practices for creating and maintaining learning environments that are healthier for students, teachers, and the planet while gaining strategies to connect your important work to the classroom. This summit is designed to engage school facilities, energy, and sustainability staff and non-profit partners working to help green schools.

This educational summit is hosted by the Center for Green Schools and the Green Schools National Network.

Thursday, February 25th

12:00pm – 12:30pm

Session kick-off and attendee connection moment

Session One: School and District Climate Commitments

12:30pm – 1:10pm

School and District Climate Commitments: Presentations

1:10pm – 1:40pm

School and District Climate Commitments: Facilitated small group conversations

1:40pm – 2:00pm

School and District Climate Commitments: Q&A with presenters

2:00pm – 2:15pm

BREAK + deskside yoga

2:15pm – 2:30pm

Welcome back and attendee connection moment

Session Two: Healthy Schools and COVID-19 Response presentations

2:30pm – 3:10pm

Healthy Schools and COVID-19 Response: Presentations

3:10pm – 3:40pm

Healthy Schools and COVID-19 Response: Facilitated small group conversations

3:40pm – 4:00pm

Healthy Schools and COVID-19 Response: Q&A with presenters

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Facilitated topical chats (to be announced)

Friday, February 26th

12:00pm – 12:30pm

Session kick-off and attendee connection moment

Session Three: Innovations in Energy Infrastructure for Schools presentations

12:30pm – 1:10pm

Innovations in Energy Infrastructure for Schools: Presentations

1:10pm – 1:40pm

Innovations in Energy Infrastructure for Schools: Facilitated small group conversations

1:40pm – 2:00pm

Innovations in Energy Infrastructure for Schools: Q&A with presenters

2:00pm – 2:15pm

BREAK + deskside yoga

2:15pm – 2:30pm

Welcome back and attendee connection moment

2:30pm – 3:10pm

Virtual Green School Tour (to be announced)

3:10pm – 4:00pm

Facilitated conversation with school tour hosts

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Facilitated topical chats (to be announced)

Session 1: School and District Climate Commitments

Pressure from communities and youth is mounting on school systems to step into leadership roles and take action on climate change. Several school districts have adopted formal climate commitments to lay out a vision to guide decision-making. This panel will feature three districts that have taken this step, each following a different path, and will explore how the commitment was established and what has or has not made it effective so far.

Session 2: Healthy Schools and COVID-19 Response

At no other time in recent memory has there been so much focus on school facilities’ role in keeping students and teachers healthy. Building and maintaining schools for health has been a focus of the green school movement since the beginning, and the current spotlight has the potential to bring additional attention to long-needed policies and practices within schools. This panel discusses building-related COVID response and the potential long-term implications of schools’ current actions.

Session 3: Innovations in Energy Infrastructure for Schools

Renewable energy, battery, and electrification technologies are rapidly evolving and will significantly change sustainability strategy at school systems. With more school decision-makers considering net zero energy construction and more fully understanding the impact of energy usage on climate change, it is critical for sustainability leaders to be up-to-speed and ready to act when the opportunity is presented. This panel features experts who will provide updates and representatives from school districts on the leading edge.

More information and speakers will be announced in January.

Need a scholarship to attend? Limited need-based assistance is available. Please write schools@usgbc.org to let us know your circumstances and what assistance you need.