Albuquerque Public Schools
Polk Middle Receives Green Ribbon Award in D.C.
South Valley school honored for its dedication to sustainability and environmental education.
A delegation of faculty from Polk Middle School in Albuquerque’s South Valley accepted the "Green Ribbon Schools" award in Washington, D.C. on July 11.
The award, granted by the U.S. Department of Education, highlights schools, districts, postsecondary institutions, and early learning centers for their cost-saving, health-promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices.
Representing Polk Middle School were Principal Ben Bustos, Community Schools Coordinator Louis Head, garden resource and social studies teacher Travis McKenzie, and dual language social studies teacher Abigail Morehead. The school’s dedication to sustainability and environmental education earned it this prestigious recognition.
While in Washington, D.C., the Polk Middle School staffers met with representatives from New Mexico’s Congressional delegation. They engaged with the legislative assistant from Sen. Martin Heinrich's office, the deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Gabe Vasquez, and met with Sen. Ben Ray Lujan. The discussions focused on Polk Middle School's pioneering sustainability measures and other related topics.
The delegation also spent 45 minutes with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) within the Executive Office of the President. They discussed the successes and challenges Polk Middle School faces as it embraces its role as an environmental STEM magnet school. The CEQ, which advises the President and develops policies on climate change, environmental justice, federal sustainability, public lands, oceans, and wildlife conservation, provided valuable insights and support.