The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) 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 the 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 the Green Schools National Network.
“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 our mission and join us in achieving it.”
This year’s recipients are:
K-12 School – Rochester School in Colombia, which has achieved over 70% energy savings and 40% potable water savings compared to a conventionally-built school of the same size. The campus features a solar aquatic center, intelligent classroom hubs, and other campus features that serve as a living textbook for the curriculum.
Ambassador – Lauren Click from Arizona, who is transforming food waste education in public schools. In 2024, Let’s Go Compost, which provides hands-on composting educational tools, expanded from a single school to 111 public schools, 75% of which are Title I.
School System – Denver Public Schools, which has worked on sustainability initiatives since 2009, focusing on environmental protection, economic prosperity, and social development.
Student Leader – Molly and Emma Weber, from Boulder, Colo., who spearheaded a local campaign for climate justice in their school district and later expanded to a statewide movement. They built a network of over 60 students in their school district, won a first-of-its-kind Green New Deal for Schools resolution through their school board, and are currently working with state senators and representatives to pass legislation.
Business Leader – Texas Disposal Systems, whose education program Eco Adademy is designed to help minimize waste in Central Texas schools by educating K-12 students about trash, recycling and composting options on their campuses.
Policy Maker – U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott and U.S. Senator Jack Reed, who have introduced the Rebuild America’s Schools Act, which, if passed, would invest $130 billion in school buildings.
K-12 Educator – Erin Stutzman, an educator in the Boise School District, who empowers students through community outreach and project- and place-based learning, helping them use their voices to create meaningful change at local, state, and national levels. In collaboration with Nez Perce youth and tribal elders in Lapwai, Idaho, her students have secured rooftop solar panels through grant writing, advocated for climate action in schools and supported the nationally recognized Save Our T-Pack initiative to protect Idaho’s wolves.
School District Champion – Darien Clary, the director of sustainability at Austin Independent School District, who has led efforts to integrate sustainability across 130 facilities, serving 73,000 students and 10,000 staff since 2016.
