A teacher at Mitchell Woods Public School in Guelph is being honoured for her commitment to environmental stewardship.
Each year, the Upper Grand District School Board presents the Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award to a staff member or volunteer who has demonstrated exemplary environmental leadership within their school community or school board.
This year, there were 20 nominations of excellent candidates. The award committee, comprised of previous award recipients and nominees, curriculum leads and the board’s environmental sustainability lead, had a difficult decision to make amongst so many deserving nominations.
This year’s winner is Liz Hazlett, a teacher at Mitchell Woods Public School in Guelph.
Hazlett embodies “green awareness” in every aspect of her teaching and personal lifestyle. She has spearheaded the school’s environmental club for countless years, inspiring them to be environmentally friendly citizens.
Under her guidance, Mitchell Woods has consistently achieved Gold EcoSchool status. Hazlett is an amazing role model for not only the students but also the staff and parent community, officials state.
Recently the staff room at Mitchell Woods PS won the school’s Green Grouch Award. This means that the staff sorted their garbage and recycling properly, just like the students are encouraged to do in their classrooms.
Hazlett models environmental stewardship in everything she does. She rides her bike or walks to school every day. She always has litterless lunches and she encourages her colleagues to help the environment. She is known to buy people a travel mug so that they stop using the disposable, non-recyclable coffee cups. Hazlett also recycles organic food waste. For example, she takes it home to feed her horses. She is always thinking of way to improve the school’s ecological footprint.
Hazlett goes above and beyond to ensure all stakeholders understand the importance of caring for the planet.
Currently, Hazlett reaching beyond the school and is engaging the community by heading up a greening committee to improve the school grounds and manage the school’s forest. She meets with members from the school community and city members to collaboratively brainstorm the best way to make Mitchell Woods as green an environment as possible.
