The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Schools National Network (GSNN) have announced the recipients of the 2026 Best of Green Schools Awards. The awards recognize 11 U.S. schools, districts, organizations, or individuals for advancing environmental stewardship, creating healthy learning environments, and promoting education for a sustainable future.
“America’s students deserve healthy, efficient, and inspiring schools that help them imagine a bright future for their communities,” said Anisa Heming, director of the Center for Green Schools. “Each of the honorees’ work is a testament to the reach of the Green Schools movement and the measurable impact that dedicated individuals can have.”
With more than one-sixth of Americans in pre-K–12 public schools each weekday, green schools deliver a wide array of community benefits. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program, K–12 districts spend over $8 billion on energy annually, with more than 30% wasted. Energy-efficient schools cut that waste, lower utility bills, and save taxpayers money. They also create healthier learning environments that reduce student and staff absenteeism. Sustainably designed schools can raise nearby property values, attract business investment, and anchor vibrant neighborhoods.
Education for sustainability can deliver additional value, boosting student engagement and achievement through real-world, hands-on learning. Schools and districts that embrace environmental and sustainability education build critical thinking and career-ready skills, foster civic leadership and environmental literacy, and strengthen community resilience.
The honorees were recognized at the 2026 Green Schools Conference in San Diego. Across 10 categories, this year’s recipients are:
- School System — Bellingham Public Schools in Washington state: Bellingham exemplifies how districts with limited staff capacity can still drive sustainability. The district has leveraged local experts and national networks to diligently prioritize sustainability in a systematic way that encompasses everything from building standards to procurement procedures to climate curriculum. Bellingham is one of the only school districts in the nation to monitor both indoor and outdoor air quality in preparation for wildfire smoke events.
- School System — The School District of Philadelphia: This large urban public school district has built a coordinated approach to sustainability through long-standing partnerships and close collaboration among operations, academics, and community organizations. Guided by GreenFutures, the district’s sustainability plan, the work supports progress in energy and resiliency planning, greenscapes and outdoor learning, waste reduction, health and indoor environmental quality, and student leadership that connects classroom learning with system-level priorities. The district shares its practices at the annual Summit for Sustainable Schools, publishing resources and collaborating with local and national partners so that other school systems can learn from what they have put into action.
- K-12 Educator — Laure Grove: Laure Grove is the lead environmental stewardship educator in Burke, Va., where innovative design and strong partnerships support hands-on environmental education. Under her leadership, Terra Centre Elementary earned consecutive Eco-Schools U.S. Green Flag Awards and launched a student-led monarch project that influenced Fairfax County to adopt the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and implement countywide pollinator and sustainability initiatives. Through audits, advocacy, and community partnerships, Grove empowers students to build sustainability knowledge, leadership skills, and meaningful community impact.
- Policy Maker — Tammy Murphy, former First Lady of New Jersey: Former First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy is being recognized for her role in establishing the Office of Climate Change Education. Through this office, the state supports the implementation of climate change education across all K-12 learning standards, including all content areas and starting in elementary school. Because of her leadership on this first-of-its-kind initiative, New Jersey ensures that students are prepared across multiple content areas and understand how and why climate change occurs and its impacts.
- K-12 School — Berwyn Heights Elementary School in Maryland: As part of Prince George’s County Public Schools, this elementary school has sustainability embedded in its culture and curriculum. Notably, the school has received a 2025 Green Ribbon School state honor, has been awarded Sustainable Bronze Status from the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, and, for the 18th consecutive year, has maintained its status as a Maryland Green School. The school has a long-standing commitment to reducing its environmental footprint through energy efficiency, student-led sustainability and conservation efforts, and outdoor spaces that support health and wellness.
- Ambassador — Robin Sidman: As the founder and executive director of Project Green Schools, Sidman has built one of the nation’s leading organizations dedicated to developing the next generation of environmental leaders, engaging over 500,000 students across more than 6,500 schools worldwide. Through innovative programs like the National Green Schools Society and the National Youth Council, she has empowered students to design and lead sustainability projects, influence policy, and deliver measurable environmental impact in their communities. By bridging grassroots student action with national and international policy engagement, Sidman has created a scalable model for youth-led climate leadership.
- Student Leader — Kayla Ling: Kayla Ling is a passionate environmental advocate driven by global storytelling and community-based leadership. She is a winner of the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge, co-lead of the Nueva Environmental Club, co-lead of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby San Mateo County Youth Group, and co-host of the CEC Student Film Fest. Her ultimate goal is to help lead a cultural, economic, and political shift toward environmental justice.
- Business Leader — MCN Build: MCN Build is an award-winning general contractor founded in Washington, D.C., delivering resilient, high-performance facilities. Distinguished by their commitment to community enhancement, MCN Build specializes in transformative projects that foster economic and environmental sustainability, with a special focus on the K-12 education sector. They are signatories to the Contractor’s Commitment to Sustainable Building Practices and proudly champion sustainability across all projects and internal operations. Their K-12 educational portfolio includes three net-zero energy schools, 43 LEED-certified schools, and three WELL-certified projects. Additionally, ongoing MCN projects are targeting two LEED Platinum, 24 LEED Gold, and 3 net-zero energy projects.
- School District Champion — Aaron Presberg: Aaron Presberg has spent the last decade spearheading the energy and sustainability program at Portland Public Schools, Ore. His work has included upgrading over 100 buildings to LED lighting, passing the district’s first climate crisis response policy, implementing the district’s decarbonization roadmap, and helping to design and build the district’s first all-electric schools. His work has yielded $5 million in energy efficiency incentives and millions of dollars in annual utility savings for the district.
- Moment for the Movement — Seal of Climate Literacy: Established in 2024 by the Colorado legislature, the Seal of Climate Literacy is a high school diploma endorsement that students earn by demonstrating an understanding of climate literacy principles and completing an experiential learning project. Nearly 2,000 Colorado students will have attained the endorsement by May 2026. The Seal is expected to be established next year in five other states: Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, California, and Oregon, with other states to follow. The Seal was founded by Lyra Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to incubating and accelerating high-impact initiatives that tackle some of the biggest challenges facing education. Now, the Seal is shared by a growing coalition of community-led climate and environmental partners who see it as advancing their missions to build a climate-educated society.
- Michelle Curreri Collaborator Award — Show-Me Green Schools: Show-Me Green Schools is a state-wide program that provides one-on-one mentoring and free professional development to teachers and school staff who are taking on sustainability projects throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. Over 250 schools have participated in a Show-Me Green Schools program, and over 150 mentors from sustainability fields have connected with schools to support student sustainability projects.