Presenters:

Stan Richardson, Director of Technology and Campus Planning, Bertschi School 

Kelly M. Kirkland, CSBA, LEED AP O+M,Education Coordinator, O’Brien & Company

Erin Rowland, Waste Reduction Specialist.  Clark County Environmental Services

Kim Armstrong, Principal, Sound Footprint

Washington Green Schools is a voluntary, web-based program that K-12 schools can use to reduce their environmental and carbon footprints. Students, teachers, staff and parents work together to assess, reduce and report their resource use through assessment and implementation tools provided on the program website, and get to celebrate their achievements through an award system. The program was developed through a collaborative statewide effort. Since its inception in 2009, over 150 schools in Washington State have joined this program.

Green school fans and promoters are invited to learn how the program works, how it can be implemented in their communities, and engage in addressing program challenges and opportunities.    

Presenter Bios

Stan Richardson
Stan is in his twentieth year with Bertschi School. He has been the school’s representative for numerous construction projects as the campus has more than doubled in size during his career. Most notable are the Bertschi Center which was the first elementary school in Washington to achieve LEED Gold certification, and the Living Building Science Wing which is on track to be the first Living Building in Washington. With degrees in industrial electronics and art, he plays an active role in the design and construction process. Stan has a love for clean design and sustainable practices bringing this focus to his work in technology and building construction.

Kelly M. Kirkland
Kelly has been working on sustainability issues since 1999 with a focus on education and outreach. In her current position she develops programs and delivers trainings that improve the sustainability of the built environment. She writes sustainable operations & maintenance guidelines, and helps building owners pursue the "LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance" rating for their facilities. She helped pilot the Washington Green Schools Program and incorporate schools’ feedback into the program content and web site design. She has taught classes on a variety of green building topics and develops curricula for clients to help them promote green building topics to their audiences.

Kim Armstrong
Kim Armstrong is co-Executive Director for Washington Green Schools (WAGS). Before WAGS, she served as a consultant for the program for the past two years. Kim is also a co-founder and Principal of Sound Footprint, a sustainability consulting firm serving schools and organizations in the Pacific Northwest.  Kim's previous experience includes operating her own socially-responsible business and serving as a management consultant for two multinational firms, Accenture and Arthur D. Little.  In this role, Kim facilitated transformational change many types of organizations. Kim holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from New York University. Kim enjoys cooking, yoga, and outdoor adventures with her husband and three children.

Erin Rowland
Erin Rowland has been a Waste Reduction Specialist for Clark County Environmental Services, in Vancouver WA, for the past five years.  Erin develops, implements, and manages programs for Clark County schools, to assist them in becoming more sustainable. Erin implemented the County's food waste composting program, Save Organic Scraps, in almost all 100 of the schools within the county. Erin served on the statewide steering team to develop the Washington Green Schools Program.  Erin is pursuing a Master's in Public Administration Degree, with a focus on energy policy, at Portland State University.