News  MassDEP Announces Green Team Awards for Environmental Leadership in PK-12 Schools

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today recognized students from 75 classrooms across Massachusetts with Green Team Awards for outstanding environmental stewardship and educational activities.  

The Green Team is a statewide program sponsored by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and MassDEP to empower students and teachers to take action in their communities to protect the environment. For more than 20 years, the program has worked with Massachusetts students of all ages to reduce pollution and protect the environment, focusing on recycling, composting, and sustainability. During the 2025-2026 school year, 426 Green Teams from 402 schools engaged 67,856 students. 

“Across Massachusetts, students and teachers are stepping up to protect our environment and make a difference in their communities. Climate change is one of our biggest challenges. When young people are involved in climate action, they gain the knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility needed to make informed decisions and drive change over time,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Congratulations to all the participating Green Team teachers and students for protecting our environment.”

“The Green Team program supports our schools, teachers, and students in taking meaningful action to conserve water and energy, reduce waste, and preserve natural resources,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “Through this work, students are helping to limit our dependence on landfills and incinerators, advancing energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions – creating lasting environmental benefits for communities across our state.” 

These environment-focused activities range from expanding school recycling programs to promoting water conservation. The program incorporates classroom disciplines from the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as reading, writing, art, and other non-classroom, interrelated projects. A full list of activities can be found on the Green Team website. 

Participating teams were entered in a drawing for prizes, and 75 Green Teams received prizes for their efforts. Eight schools won grand prizes, and 24 schools were recognized for going “above and beyond” with their efforts to promote sustainability and responsible leadership in their communities, in particular areas of focus. All 32 winners will receive a gift card that can be used for a party to celebrate their hard work and dedication, or for materials or equipment that support their Green Team efforts. Additionally, each participating student in 43 Green Team classes will receive an Earth Day sticker for their impressive work this school year. 

The eight grand prize winners are: 

English High School (Jamaica Plain):  
The English High School Green Team, led by Thomas Hayes, focused on zero-waste initiatives at the school. The team also dedicated meeting time to examining and acting on environmental justice topics such as tree equity in their community.  

St. Mary's High School (Lynn):  
The St. Mary's High School Green Team, led by Stacy Drector, organized several reuse and donation initiatives, including sneaker drives and contributions to a local community refrigerator. Students were proactive in designing educational posters for their classmates to make more sustainable choices to reduce waste at school. The Green Team also met with Vanguard Renewables to learn more about anaerobic digestion solutions and investigated ways for their school to prevent, reduce, and divert more material on campus. 

James S. Daley Middle School (Lowell): 
The James S. Daley Middle School Green Team, led by Kara Mandeville, held its first “Upcycle Fashion Show” featuring recycled materials collected around the school. They promoted “Trash Free” school days, organized campus cleanup days, and created “Taste the Garden” recipes inspired by their on-site vegetable and herb gardens. Students also created posters raising awareness of the negative environmental impacts of AI infrastructure.  

Mullen-Hall School (Falmouth): 
The Mullen-Hall School Green Team, led by Shannon Carlson, participated in school-wide composting, recycling, and reuse programs that reduced the volume of trash and diverted 250 pounds of food scraps to compost each month. The Green Team then incorporated the fresh compost into their on-site garden beds, which serve as a learning space for all to enjoy on campus.  

Norwood High School (Norwood): 
The Norwood High School Green Team, led by Allison Leichtman, held several reuse and upcycling events this school year including an Equal Exchange Holiday Fundraiser and an NHS Thrift event where community members donated gently used gear for resale to raise money for environmental initiatives on campus. Student representatives participated in the Town of Norwood’s Sustainability Commission and raised awareness about harmful chemicals in everyday products that can contribute to inducing breast cancer. The NHS Green Team includes the community in their activities, planning Earth Day events to share practical ideas for reusables to reduce single-use plastics and choose more sustainable options. In addition, the team also raised money to donate to Hoops2O, an organization that brings clean water to communities around the world in need.  

Brockton High School (Brockton): 
The Brockton High School Green Team, led by Eleri Merrikin, learned more about regenerative gardening practices to conserve resources and grow their own garden on campus. Students met with the City Recycling Manager and developed social media posters in multiple languages to address best practices for single-stream recycling. Students grew native pollinator plants in their school greenhouse and sold them to the local community to promote a healthy local habitat. The BHS Green Team is also developing a food waste reduction initiative to roll out with student leadership in district elementary schools.  

Milford High School (Milford): 
The Milford High School Green Team, led by Nathan Gaucher, started a school-wide recycling program focused on collecting bottles and cans. Students learned practical, vocational skills throughout their Green Team projects, which have prepared them for environmental and sustainability-focused career paths.  

HEC Academy, Collaborative for Educational Services (Northampton): 
The HEC Academy Green Team, led by Amy Stamm, continues to collaborate directly with their city to prioritize reuse, donation, and repair to meet the specific needs within their community. The HEC Academy Green Team was selected to present and serve on a panel at the Massachusetts Farm and Sea to School Conference, providing students with the opportunity to share their initiatives and impact with stakeholders from across the state. The Green Team learned more about climate-resilient farming practices through Grow Food Northampton, adding connections and applied lessons to their on-site garden-to-table cooking program. Students are researching and writing letters to food system leaders and local government officials to advocate for flood mitigation policies that support local farms.  

The following 24 Green Teams are recognized for their particular focus area: 

• Agawam: Roberta G. Doering School, Agawam, Team Leader Tammy Rumplik, Area of Focus: Energy/Idle Reduction /Transportation (Grades: K-5) 
• Andover: Andover High School, Team Leader Melanie Cutler, Area of Focus: Activism and Civic Engagement (Grades: 9-12) 
• Arlington: Ottoson Middle School, Team Leader Rachel Oliveri, Area of Focus: Activism and Civic Engagement (Grades: 6-8)
• Chicopee: Chicopee High School, Team Leader Joanna Forge't, Area of Focus: Recycling (Grades: 9-12)
• Cohasset: Cohasset High School, Team Leader Pete Afanasiw, Area of Focus: Textiles (Grades: 9-12) 
• Framingham: Charlotte A. Dunning Elementary School, Team Leader Shannon Pierson, Area of Focus: Activism and Civic Engagement (Grades: K-5) 
• Lee: Lee Elementary School, Team Leader Paula Duhon, Area of Focus: Reuse or Prevention (Grades: K-5) 
• Leicester: Leicester High School, Team Leader Kimberly Russo, Area of Focus: Food Diversion/Compost (Grades: 9-12) 
• Lexington: William Diamond Middle School, Team Leader Christine Goulet, Area of Focus: Activism and Civic Engagement (Grades: 6-8) 
• Lexington: Harrington Elementary School, Team Leader Abby Brayton-Chung, Area of Focus: Textiles (Grades: K-5)
• Malden: Beebe School, Team Leader Michelle Corbett, Area of Focus: Recycling (Grades: 6-8) 
• Marshfield: Furnace Brook Middle School, Team Leader Chris Casavant, Area of Focus: Reuse or Prevention (Grades: 6-8) 
• Mashpee: Mashpee Middle-High School, Team Leader Shona Vitelli, Area of Focus: Garden (Grades: 6-8) 
• Manchester By the Sea: Manchester Essex Regional High School, Team Leader Keith Hartan, Area of Focus: Garden (Grades: 9-12) 
• Medfield: Dale Street School, Team Leader Bethany Sager, Area of Focus: Recycling (Grades: K-5)
• Methuen: Comprehensive Grammar School, Team Leader Sarah Foley, Area of Focus: Energy/Idle Reduction/Transportation (Grades: 6-8)
• Newtonville: Horace Mann, Team Leader Julie Ferland, Area of Focus: Food Donation/Share Tables (Grades: K-5) 
• Newtonville: F. A. Day Middle School, Team Leader Taylor Cohen, Area of Focus: Textiles (Grades: 6-8) 
• Newton Centre: Oak Hill Middle School, Team Leader Janette Patel, Area of Focus: Food Donation/Share Tables (Grades: 6-8) 
• Newton Centre: Newton South High School, Team Leader Andrew Thompson, Area of Focus: Food Donation/Share Tables (Grades: 9-12) 
• Norwood: Norwood Montessori School, Team Leader Tamiko Porter, Area of Focus: Food Diversion/Compost (Grades: K-5)
• Savoy: Emma L. Miller Elementary School, Team Leader Brian Keller, Area of Focus: Garden (Grades: K-5)
• Stoughton: Stoughton High School, Team Leader Jennifer Kelly, Area of Focus: Reuse or Prevention (Grades: 9-12) 
• Tyngsboro: Innovation Academy Charter School, Team Leader: Anna Cynar, Area of Focus: Food Diversion/Compost (Grades: 6-8) 

The other impressive 43 Green Team classes for the 2025-2026 school year received an Earth Day sticker for reusable water bottles for each participating student. The 43 prize winners are: 

• Abington: Abington Middle School, Team Leader Lauren Peruzzi (Grade: 7)
• Acton: Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Team Leader Nancy Young (Grades: 9-12)
• Arlington: Stratton Elementary School, Team Leader Tammy Luk (Grades: K-4) 
• Bedford: Bedford High School, Team Leader Ashley Martell (Grades: 9-12) 
• Bedford: Lt. Job Lane Elementary School, Team Leader Jamie Nolan (Grades: 3-5) 
• Bedford: Lt. Eleazer Davis Elementary School, Team Leader Erin Dorr (Grade: 2) 
• Bellingham: Bellingham High School, Team Leader Linda Cartier (Grades: 9-12) 
• Beverly: Ayers Ryal Side Elementary School, Team Leader Jordan Ciaramitaro (Grades: 3-4)
• Beverly: Cove Elementary School, Team Leader, Rebecca Hardenstine (Grade: 2) 
• Boxborough: Blanchard Memorial School, Team Leader Leanne Berggrun (Grades: K-6) 
• Cheshire: Youth Center Inc., Team Leader Monica Carpenter (Grades: PreK-8) 
• East Falmouth: East Falmouth Elementary School, Team Leader Rosemary Moran (Grade: 4)
• East Longmeadow: Meadow Brook Elementary School, Team Leader Elizabeth Bone (Grade: 3) 
• East Sandwich: Riverview School, Team Leader Chris Pino (Grades: 6-12) 
• East Weymouth: South Shore Christian Academy, Team Leader Jill Stiles (Grades: 10-12)
• Great Barrington: Brookside Intensive Treatment Unit, Team Leader Cindy Konrad (Grades: 7-9) 
• Greenfield, Newton Elementary School, Team Leader Miriam Robinson (Grades: K-4)
• Greenfield, Federal Street School, Team Leader Miriam Robinson (Grades: K-4)
• Longmeadow: Center School, Team Leader Valerie Brown (Grades: 3-5)
• Lowell: Bartlett Community Partnership School, Team Leader Jo Anne Downing (Grades: PreK-8)
• Lowell: The BRIDGE Program at the Riverside/McHugh Alternative School, Team Leader Carla Couilliard (Grades: 6-8)
• Newburyport: Francis T. Bresnahan Elementary School, Team Leader Katara Harding (Grade: 1)
• Newton, Bigelow Middle School, Team Leader Crista Cavicchio (Grade: 6)
• Newton: Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School, Team Leader Jennifer Monopoli (Grade: 4)
• Newton Centre: Memorial Spaulding Elementary School, Team Leader: Alexandra Etscovitz (Grades: K-5)
• Newton Centre: John Ward Elementary School, Team Leader Susan Tempesta (Grades: K-5) 
• Newton Corner: Underwood Elementary School, Team Leader Jean Van Putten (Grades: K-5) 
• Norfolk: King Philip Regional Middle School, Team Leader Michelle Kreuzer (Grade: 7)
• North Andover: North Andover High School, Team Leader Sarah Vaudo (Grades: 9-12) 
• North Andover: Atkinson Elementary School, Team Leader Mandi Imasogie (Grades: 1-5) 
• North Andover: North Andover Middle School, Team Leader Erien Gordon (Grades: 6-8)
• North Falmouth: North Falmouth Elementary School, Team Leader Jenna Clark (Grade: 3)
• Peabody: Captain Samuel Brown Elementary School, Team Leader Diane Bugler (Grade: 5) 
• Pembroke: Pembroke High School, Team Leader Mary Lafond (Grades: 9-12)
• South Yarmouth: Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Team Leader Emma Ethier (Grades: 10-12)
• Swansea: Joseph G. Luther Elementary School, Team Leader Scott Sunaz-Lods (Grades: 3-5)
• Tyngsborough: Greater Lowell Technical High School, Team Leader Dani Jo White-Yelito (Grades: 9-12)
• Waltham: Dual Language School, Team Leader Deanna Hoffman (Grades: 4-5)
• Warren: Quaboag Regional High School, Team Leader Sibilla Flannery (Grades: 9 & 12)
• Watertown: J. R. Lowell Elementary School, Team Leader Elizabeth Kaplan (Grade: 5)
• Wilbraham: Stony Hill Elementary School, Team Leader Christine Goonan (Grades: 2-3)
• Winchester: Ambrose Elementary School, Team Leader Anne Brown (Grades: K-5) 
• Winchester: Lynch Elementary at Parkhurst School, Team Leader Naomi Magnoni (Grades: K-5)

Educators who are interested in learning more about the Green Team program and registering their classes for the coming 2026-2027 school year are encouraged to visit the Green Team website.