About Us
Michigan Green Schools is a non-profit 501(c)3 agency dedicated to assisting all Michigan schools – public and private – achieve environmental goals which include protecting the air, land, water and animals of our state along with world outreach through good ecological practices and the teaching of educational stewardship of students pre-kindergarten through senior high school.
Michigan Green Schools began as an idea from students and teachers of Hartland Consolidated School District in the fall of 2005. It was determined that the best way to help Michigan achieve environmental goals through its schools was to formulate 20 points of educational environmental activities. It was further decided that if any school in Michigan achieved ten of these points within an academic year, it could achieve official Michigan Green School status.
Students and teachers then proceeded to propose their bill to local Representative Joe Hune, who introduced the bill in the Michigan House in 2006. Students and teachers testified before the House Natural Resources Committee; it was forwarded to the House floor. Public Act 146 of 2006 was approved by an overwhelming majority of that body.
State Senator Valde Garcia then sponsored the legislation before the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee, which voted to send the bill to the Senate floor. The Senate voted almost unanimously to approve the measure.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed the bill May 21, 2006. In the first year of the program, 18 schools participated. Last year 389 schools became official Michigan Green Schools. This academic year, over 508 schools are participating in the growing program.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated educational professionals from throughout the state of Michigan:
Nicole Garcia (Livingston/Washtenaw Intermediate School District)
ngarcia@wash.k12.mi.us
Sarah Storm (Eaton Intermediate School District)
storms@glps.k12.mi.us
Scott Whipple (Huron Intermediate School District)
swhipple@hisd.k12.mi.us
Sandra Berra, Secretary
cberra@chartermi.net
Trese Steinaway, Treasurer
steinawaytrese@hotmail.com
Shanna Tury, Vice President and co-author of the Michigan Green School Bill Public Act 146 of 2006
shannapresley@hartlandschools.us
Ginny Wippel (Van Buren Intermediate School District)
GWippel@vbisd.org
Charles Yeager (Marquette/Alger Intermediate School District)
cyeager@maresa.k12.mi.us
Kris Moffett, President
KristineMoffett@Hartlandschools.us
