M-DCPS Celebrates Sustainability, Innovation and Student Leadership at Third Annual Green Schools Recognition Program Awards

Winners display their awards at the GreenSchools Recognition Program Awards at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden along withM-DCPS administrators and elected officials.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools(M-DCPS) celebrated the Third Annual Green Schools Recognition Program Awards,honoring schools for excellence in sustainability, environmental stewardship,innovation, health and wellness, and community engagement. This year, 55schools participated in the program, part of a growing movement that hasengaged nearly 100 schools since its launch in 2023.

“What started as a competition hasbecome a community,” said Karly Pulido, Chief Sustainability Officer forM-DCPS. “Schools are sharing ideas, resources, and best practices whileempowering students to become environmental leaders. Every principal, teacher,champion, and student involved is helping change the world one campus at atime.”

The schools participating in the programimplemented projects focused on environmental education, composting, recycling,resource conservation, campus enhancement, student leadership, and communityinvolvement.

2026Green Schools Recognition Program Award Winners

Award Category	Winning School	Award
Overall First Place	Gloria Floyd Elementary School	$5,000
Overall Second Place	Henry M. Flagler Elementary School	$3,000
Overall Third Place	Riviera Middle School	$1,000
School Ground Enhancement Award	Banyan Elementary School	$1,000
School Sustainability Award	Coral Reef Senior High School	$1,000
Health and Well-Being Award	Dante B. Fascell Elementary School	$1,000
Curriculum Integration Award	David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center	$1,000
Community Involvement Award	Sylvania Heights Elementary School	$1,000
School-Wide Culture Award	Kinloch Park Elementary School	$1,000
Innovation Award	G.W. Carver Elementary School	$1,000
Accelerator Award	Maya Angelou Elementary School	$1,000
Accelerator Award	Carol City Elementary School	$1,000

Among this year’s highlights, Banyan Elementary School became the firstschool to earn recognition for three consecutive years. The inauguralAccelerator Award also produced the program’s first tie, with Maya AngelouElementary School and Carol City Elementary School, both participants in theDistrict’s composting pilot, sharing the honor.

Representatives from Gloria Floyd Elementary School acceptthe Overall First Place Award during the Third Annual Green Schools RecognitionProgram Awards.

Gloria Floyd Elementary School received the Overall FirstPlace Award and $5,000 after building a schoolwide culture that includescomposting, recycling, conservation, food sharing, and environmental education.

“The Green Schools program provides meaningfulopportunities to connect classroom learning with hands-on experiences andencourages students and staff to work together toward a healthier, more sustainable school,” saidChristine Smith, Gloria Floyd Elementary School principal.

Henry M. Flagler Elementary School earned Overall SecondPlace and $3,000 in its first year participating in the program, while RivieraMiddle School received Overall Third Place and $1,000.

Banyan Elementary School, the first three-timewinner in program history, received the School Ground Enhancement Award forturning campus spaces into outdoor learning environments with butterflygardens, native plants and hands-on science opportunities.

Staff from Maya Angelou Elementary School and Carol CityElementary School and M-DCPS administrators and elected officials celebratereceiving the inaugural Accelerator Award.

The new Accelerator Award recognized exceptional growth inschool sustainability programs. Its inaugural recipients, Maya AngelouElementary School and Carol City Elementary School, share an additionalconnection as participants in the District’s composting pilot.

“The program has allowed us to celebrate and expand uponthe environmental contributions already taking place at our school whilebuilding a lasting culture of sustainability,” said Tiffany N. Davis, principalof Carol City Elementary School.

The Green Schools Recognition Program integratessustainability into instruction, campus operations, school culture, andcommunity partnerships. Through collaboration among students, educators,families, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and businesses, theprogram creates authentic learning experiences while building healthier schoolsand stronger communities.

“The real success of Green Schools isn’t measured byan award,” Pulido said. “It’s measured by students understanding that theiractions matter and schools working  

together toward common goals. When we conserve resources,reduce waste and save energy, we can reinvest those resources directly intoclassrooms and student learning.”

By connecting classroom instruction with real-worldproblem-solving, the program demonstrates why M-DCPS continues to be Your BestChoice in public education.

Financialawards and student-led sustainability initiatives are supported throughcontributions to the M-DCPS Foundation’s Green Fund. This year’s sponsors wereGold Sponsor Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden; Silver Sponsors Florida Power& Light, Florida Transportation System, Ameresco and Trane; and BronzeSponsors EnergyCAP, Educational Federal Credit Union, JLL, The CLEO Institute,McGraw Hill, Advanced Green Technologies, Curtis & Rogers Design Studio,Jorge A. Gutierrez Architect LLC, SGM Engineering, Allberio Energy, ASHRAEMiami Chapter, ABB and Smart Building Solutions. 

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