AskHRgreen.org, a Hampton Roads environmental education initiative, recently recognized 10 teachers from the region with Green Star awards to commemorate the organization’s 10-year anniversary.

Among those recognized is Pamela Hall, a science, technology, engineering and math teacher at Carrollton Elementary School.

Each teacher will receive a $1,000 monetary award to use for future green-themed classroom projects.

“Everything Ms. Hall does with her students is hands-on, life-applicable, sustainable and green,” her nomination stated. “Her students have learned to repurpose everything from plastic bags to cereal boxes to egg cartons. Ms. Hall has also taught her students about renewable energy and plans to use her award funds to help students incorporate wind and solar energy into their engineering projects.”

News of the Green Star program was announced last fall when nominations opened to any Hampton Roads instructor overseeing unique green-focused studies and projects with K-12 students. An askHRgreen.org steering committee pored over more than 40 nominations sent in from colleagues, parents and administrators, identifying educators who developed and led immersive, eco-friendly teaching experiences for their students.

“The pandemic has been such a difficult time for students and teachers,” said Rebekah Eastep, an askHRgreen.org team leader. “We wanted to use this special anniversary as a way to give back and recognize educators who have gone above and beyond to promote environmental stewardship in their schools and communities.”

Hall has a history of integrating the outdoors with her lessons. She was previously named the 2020 statewide agriculture in the classroom teacher of the year.

To learn more about the Green Star Teachers recognition program, and to view information/photos of all the recipients and their winning projects, visit https://askhrgreen.org/greenstarteachers/.