About Us

The first BPS Sustainability position was a 2011 UTC Green Schools Fellow, thanks to the Center for Green Schools.

In 2014, the fellowship was transformed into a BPS full-time employee (FTE) as Sustainability Manager in the Facilities Management Department.

In 2017, the position was promoted to the Sustainability and Environmental Resources Manager, and made supervisor of the Energy (4 FTE) and Environmental Divisions (3 FTE).

In 2022, the position was promoted to Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program Director.

Due to the success of team’s work, and the growing recognition of the importance of sustainability and environmental resources at BPS, the Director has been able to add 4 additional FTE to the Environmental Division (2 Senior, 2 Junior positions), and create 3 new Sustainability FTEs – Water and Sustainability Project Manager, Zero Waste and Sustainability Project Manager, and Outdoor Teaching and Learning Manager – since 2020. 

Now, the team is known as the Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program.

Grants Awards and Special Funding

• $99,768 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Award from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Hydroponics (2023)
• $50,000 MA Farming Resources Education and Student Health (MA FRESH) Grant from DESE for Hydroponics (2023)
• $15.4M IVAQ grant from DESE for HVAC investments (2022)
• $3.3M ESSER funds for Outdoor Teaching and Learning (2022)
• $6.7M ESSER funds for Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Initiative (2020)
• $5,000/year & education support for 5 years, Jet-A-Way/BPS contract funds for BPS Recycling (2021)
• $10.34M City of Boston Capital Funds for BPS Drinking Water Initiative (2020)
• $6.215M U.S. EPA Grant – Reduction in Lead Exposure Via Drinking Water for BPS (2020)
• $10,000 Schneider Electric and ENE Grant for BPS Gardens (2020)
• $100,000 USDA Farm to School Implementation Grant for Green City Growers and BPS (2019)
• $10,000/year for 3 years, Capitol Waste Services, Inc./BPS contract funds for BPS Recycling (2018)

Awards and Recognition

• Best in Class – Energy Efficiency Plus Health for Boston Public Schools from U.S. Department of Energy Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign (2023)
• U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award for Boston Public Schools (2023)
• Change Agent of the Year for Katherine Walsh from Built Environment Plus (2022)
• Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education from MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (2021)
• 2019-2020 School District Scholarship from Center for Green Schools (2019)
• Henry L. Shattuck Public Service Award for Jeff Lane (2019)
• Millennials for 100% Renewable Energy for Katherine Walsh from Environment Massachusetts (2019)
• Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education from MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for BPS teachers Nicole Ruttan (Umana Academy K-8) and Kris Grymonpre (McCormack Middle School) (2019)
• Mayor’s Greenovate Award for Climate Leadership for Katherine Walsh from City of Boston (2019)
• Green Ribbon Schools Award for Boston Green Academy from U.S. Department of Education (2019)
• Public Water Systems Awards: STAR-L Award from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (2018)