King’s Elementary School teacher to be honored as King County Earth Hero

Jody Coulston
King's Elementary School, Shoreline

The environmental work of students, teachers, and other members of the school community in King County will be honored at King County’s Earth Heroes at School ceremony in May.

Students as well as educators and other school employees will be honored for their environmental stewardship at the King County Earth Heroes at School awards ceremony, May 3 at Maplewood Greens in Renton.

Earth Heroes inspire others to create their own projects that conserve resources, protect the environment, and educate others about how simple, everyday actions can contribute to a healthier planet.

Solid Waste Division Director Pat McLaughlin will be joined by several King County Councilmembers to present the awards. Jourdan Imani Keith, director of Urban Wilderness Project, will be the keynote speaker.

The honorees represent all areas of King County and include one student, three student environmental clubs, six school staff, five teachers, and two school districts. Examples of the work these Earth Heroes have done include:

• Creating an initiative to encourage schools to commit to reducing carbon emissions in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement.
• Saving energy across a school district by installing energy-efficient lighting.
• Reusing materials to make art and art-related supplies.
• Reducing food waste in lunchrooms by establishing share tables for unopened packaged food.
• Collecting food waste in the lunchroom for composting.

The ceremony is set for 4:30pm at Maplewood Greens, 4050 Maple Valley Hwy., Renton. For more information about the Earth Heroes at School Program, contact Donna Miscolta at donna.miscolta@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-5282.

2018 EARTH HEROES AT SCHOOL

Among those being honored is:

Jody Coulston, King’s Elementary School, Shoreline

Local artist and K-6 art teacher Jody Coulston reuses paper and plastic materials, such as coffee filters, scrap paper, and plastic bottles, for student art projects. She uses old plastic containers for paintbrush washing and used wood pallets to make assignment boxes. She also uses a type of clay that requires only one hour in the kiln rather than overnight, which conserves significant amounts of energy.

Others being honored:

• Veronica Knight, Lake Washington Environmental and Adventure School, Kirkland
• Student Green Team, Tesla STEM High School, Redmond
• Jonathan Stine and Renton School District, Renton
• Mary Ward, Tiffany Park Elementary School, Renton
• Steve Wojciechowski and the Star Lake Elementary Green Team, Kent
• Paul Bowler and Stephanie Lecovin, Peter Kirk Elementary School, Kirkland
• Carol Barker and Auburn School District Child Nutrition Services, Auburn
• Laura Sanders, Westwood Elementary School, Enumclaw
• Shoshanna Cohen, White Center Heights Elementary School, White Center
• Carol Mendoza, St. Bernadette Parish School, Burien
• Thomas Ho, Marci Klinkenberg, and the student Green Team, Lake Youngs Elementary School, Kent
• Jane Watkins, Maywood Middle School, Renton
• Andrea Wolfe, Apollo Elementary School, Renton
• Kelsey Webb, Enumclaw High School, Enumclaw