GaDOE’s Keisha
Ford-Jenrette receives Director’s Award
MEDIA
CONTACT: Matt Cardoza,
GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org
or Keisha Ford-Jenrette, kford@gadoe.org
(404) 657-2949
May 8, 2017 – Three of Georgia’s public schools
have been named national Green Ribbon Schools for 2017, the U.S. Department of
Education announced this week. Gilbert Elementary School in Walker County,
Kinchafoonee Primary School in Lee County, and Morningside Elementary
School in Atlanta Public Schools were all honored with the Green Ribbon
designation, which recognizes schools and districts that exercise a comprehensive
approach to creating “green” environments by reducing environmental impact,
promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality environmental and outdoor
education for students.
The University
of Georgia was also honored, along with Keisha Ford-Jenrette, the Recognitions
Manager for the Georgia Department of Education. Ford-Jenrette received the
2017 ED-Green Ribbon Schools Director’s Award, and was honored for her efforts
to advance school sustainability in the state of Georgia.
“I couldn’t be
prouder of these schools – and their students and staffs – as they receive this
national distinction,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “Georgia’s
schools continue to chase excellence and put innovative practices into place,
and I’m pleased to see that recognized. I’m also very proud of Ms.
Ford-Jenrette, who as our Recognitions Manager has helped thousands of
Georgia’s schools, students, and educators receive a much-deserved ‘thank you’
for their work.”
The honorees
were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 28 states and the Department
of Defense Department of Education Activity. The selectees include 39 public
schools, including five magnet schools and one charter school, as well as six
nonpublic schools. Forty-four percent of the 2017 honorees serve a
disadvantaged student body and 14 percent are rural. The postsecondary honorees
include three career and technical and community colleges.
Through a
partnership involving the Georgia Department of Education, Lt. Governor Casey
Cagle, Captain Planet Foundation, the Turner Foundation, the U.S. Green
Building Council of Georgia, the Clean Air Campaign and the University System
of Georgia, three schools and a college were nominated to compete for the
national award.
The list of all
selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities, as well as their
nomination packages, can be found here.
A report with highlights on the 63 honorees can be found
here. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here.