With the recent celebration of Earth Day, it seems appropriate that teachers across the county have recently been honored for their contributions to environmental education.
The Air Pollution Control District of Santa Barbara County teamed up with the Santa Barbara County Education Office to encourage environmental innovation through the “Care for our Earth” grant program. This year, 42 grants of $250 were recently awarded to local instructors to recognize their creativity when it comes to teaching environmental issues such as the conservation of resources.
Both agencies hope that funds allocated through the partnership will spark a desire in teachers to educate students about the importance of doing their part when it comes to the environment.
“The Air Pollution Control District’s long-standing support of teachers countywide has had an enormous impact on student learning,” county Superintendent Bill Cirone said in a press release. “By supporting innovative local teachers, this grant program has engaged students in new ways, showing them how science can be both fun and important.”
By making learning enjoyable for students, many teachers are setting the stage for an environmentally savvy future generation, the press release said, adding that an increase in environmental awareness has ripple effects that reach the entire community.
“These projects have resulted in clean-air benefits as well as benefits to schools by reducing energy use (and electricity bills), raising awareness of the need to cut traffic and pollution at school sites, helping students understand how to take public transportation, training students in bike safety, and much more,” Air Pollution Control District Director Dave Van Mullem said in the press release.
Grants will be awarded on May 8 at the annual Education Celebration at the Santa Ynez Marriott in Buellton.
This article appears in May 1-8, 2014.