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San Juan Teacher Receives Presidential Award for Environmental Education Teacher is 1 of Only 17 Recognized Nationwide

Release Date: 08/12/2014
Contact Information: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

      (New York, N.Y.) Darelis Flores, an elementary school teacher at The School of San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was honored today at a White House ceremony for winning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators which recognizes outstanding academic approaches to environmental education.

      Ms. Flores has over a dozen years of teaching experience and currently heads the Eco School program, which educates students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The School of San Juan practices constructivist philosophy, integrating Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Spanish, and English. Ms. Flores’ passion resulted in a number of innovative programs at her school including frequent recycling workshops, a “Litter Less” campaign, a cell phone recycling event, a school musical about environmentalism, and a beach cleanup.

      “Exceptional educators like Ms. Flores are educating the next generation on key environmental issues in Puerto Rico,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “The young people who have been lucky enough to call Ms. Flores their teacher will be better caretakers of the environment – which benefits us all.”

      The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators is awarded to kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who use innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for learning for their students. Up to two teachers from each of EPA's 10 regions, from different states, are selected each year.

      For more information about these award programs, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators

      and https://www.epa.gov/education/presidents-environmental-youth-award

      Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2

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