California’s Green Ribbon Schools recognized during event

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The 2024 California Green Ribbon Schools Ceremony held at Claremont High School culminated with a school tour that featured all 10 schools in the district and celebrated achievements to advance sustainability.

June 10, 2024

Claremont Unified School District recently hosted the 2024 California Green Ribbon Schools Ceremony, an event organized in partnership with the California Department of Education to recognize educational institutions championing sustainability in education.

The event brought together educators, students and leaders to celebrate innovative practices in sustainability across California schools.

Kaili Hernandez, ASB President at Claremont High School, opened the ceremony at Claremont High School’s campus with an inspiring overview of the school’s sustainability initiatives.

“Our commitment to sustainability is evident in our everyday actions — from initiating a composting program to actively participating in energy conservation efforts,” Hernandez stated. This proactive approach has reduced the school’s ecological footprint and empowered students two lead and innovate.

Bob Fass, president of the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education, expressed his pride in the district’s achievements. “It is an immense honor to be recognized alongside other remarkable schools that share our commitment to sustainability,” Fass said.

Claremont USD Superintendent Jim Elsasser spoke about the district’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, woven into its educational philosophy.

“Here in Claremont, our efforts are guided by our core values of excellence, equity, innovation and integrity,” he said, adding that these principles steer the district’s continuous strides in environmental stewardship.

The ceremony recognized past achievements and provided a platform to inspire further action. Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Nancy Kim Portillo commended the honorees for their “boundless innovation and unyielding commitment” to environmental and educational excellence.

“You’ve dedicated your time and effort to instilling in our youth the values of environmental stewardship, preparing them to become responsible custodians of our planet,” Portillo said, emphasizing educators’ critical role in shaping future generations.

In accepting the district’s award as a Green Achiever, Claremont Director of Intervention and English Learner Programs Natalie Taylor Barbiera reflected on the district’s journey toward sustainability.

“I’ve seen students develop recycling programs on their campuses and I’ve seen them composting at lunch and winning trash-free lunch challenges. The gardens that we are cultivating on our campuses are full of native plants and are providing food for our community,” she noted. Taylor Barbiera also paid homage to Rick Cota, whose work with facilities, maintenance and nutrition services was instrumental in developing the sustained effort that led to this recognition.

Claremont USD and four other “Green Achievers” at the state level have also received national recognition in the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools program. These ED-GRS honorees are invited to participate in the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools national ceremony this summer:

Cabrillo Unified School District, San Mateo County.
Claremont Unified School District.
Rio School District, Ventura County.
Trabuco Elementary, Saddleback Valley USD, Orange County.
Pacific Ridge School (private school), San Diego County.

The ceremony at Claremont High School culminated with a school tour that featured all 10 schools in the district and celebrated achievements and reaffirmed the community’s commitment to advancing sustainability in education. It also served as a call to action for other schools and districts to join in this important cause, ensuring that the next generation is equipped to address the environmental challenges of the future.

See the full list of the 2024 California Green Ribbon Schools Award Honorees.

Claremont Director of Intervention and English Learner Programs Natalie Taylor Barbiera accepts her district’s award.

The ceremony honoring California’s Green Ribbon Schools was held at Claremont High School.