Making green schools a reality

The annual Green Schools Conference (GSC) brings together everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools, with a focus on those leading their schools and school systems toward whole-school sustainability.

The 2025 event will convene the green schools community in the LEED Gold City of Orlando at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Disney Springs to celebrate 15 years of the GSC during a two-day experience designed to inspire and facilitate the progress of the green schools movement.

Attendees will receive action-oriented training across disciplines and make lasting connections with peers and colleagues during targeted opportunities to exchange best practices and enhance green school initiatives nationwide.

View the 2024 post-show report

GSC is presented by the Center for Green Schools in partnership with the Green Schools National Network.

CFGS
GSNN

2025 Program Advisors

  • Riliwan Abioye
  • Fran Agnone
  • Olukayode Apata
  • Rebecca Baibak
  • Richard Benjamin
  • Olufunke Benson
  • Gabriella Bermea
  • Paul Bocko
  • Lorna Bravo
  • Lori Brown
  • Sarah Chatel
  • Tony Colaneri
  • Robert Douglass
  • Michelle Faggert
  • Lauren Flood
  • Karin Goldmark
  • Emily Guerra
  • Brendan Haggerty
  • Jessica Hawkins
  • Jill Heins Nesvold
  • Meredith Hendricks
  • Samantha Hudson
  • Sarah Koning
  • Laurel Kruke
  • Shivani Langer
  • Stephanie Omakwu
  • Esther Oyedele
  • Annie Perkins
  • Suraj Rahmon
  • Urmi Ray
  • Deborah Rogers
  • Sionainn Rudek
  • Edouard Salomon
  • Jon Schroeder
  • Deborah Stadler
  • Mark Swiger
  • Timothy Unruh
  • Pegah Zamani
  • Co-Chair: Anisa Heming, Center for Green Schools
  • Co-Chair: Jenny Seydel, Green Schools National Network

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The 2025 Green Schools Conference Program

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council and Green Schools National Network are delighted to introduce the 2025 Green Schools Conference (GSC) program. With two full days of interdisciplinary education followed by post conference green building tours, the GSC education program provides participants a plethora of opportunities to meaningfully connect, engage, and learn from likeminded peers in promoting green school initiatives nationwide

View the full program

Best of Green Schools Awards

The Center for Green Schools and the Green Schools National Network are proud to present the Best of Green Schools Awards to celebrate the hard work being done—by people, schools, campuses and organizations—to advance the green schools movement.

Nominations are currently being accepted for individuals and teams representing diverse communities and educational settings worldwide. If you or someone you know has made an impact in advancing green schools during the 2023–2024 school year, submit an award nomination by 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 18.

The winners of the 2025 awards will be celebrated during the Best of Green Schools Awards Luncheon on March 3 at the 15th annual Green Schools Conference.

Learn more and submit a nomination

Schedule at a Glance

Monday
March 3
8:15 - 9:15 am GSC Opening Plenary
9:30 - 11:30 am Workshops
12:00 - 1:15 pm Best of Green Schools Awards Luncheon
1:30 - 2:30 pm Education Sessions
2:45 - 3:45 am Education Sessions
4:00 - 5:30 pm Speed Greening
6:00 - 8:00 pm Annual GSNN Friends & Family Event
Tuesday
March 4
8:00 am - 9:00 am GSC Opening Circles
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Exchange Showcase
9:00 - 10:15 am Education Sessions
10:45 - 11:45 am Education Sessions
11:45 am - 1:30 pm Networking Luncheon
1:30 - 2:30 pm Education Sessions
2:45 - 3:30 am Education Sessions
3:45 - 4:30 pm GSC Closing Discussions
4:30 - 5:30 pm Closing Plenary
5:30 - 7:00 pm Closing Reception
Wednesday
March 5
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Immersive Offsite Experiences*

*additional registration required

Sustainability at GSC

Sustainability is the foundation of the Green Schools Conference (GSC). The GSC sustainability program addresses environmental impact through seven objectives.

Seven objectives of the GSC sustainability program

  1. Move toward a zero-waste event
  2. Increase stakeholder education and engagement
  3. Improve sustainable sourcing
  4. Improve performance tracking
  5. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  6. Positively impact communities
  7. Catalyze the advancement of green building initiatives and sustainable operations within the hospitality industry

2024 goals

  1. Encourage, celebrate, and facilitate attendees’ commitments to making sustainable choices onsite.
  2. Source 35% or more of the event’s food & beverage regionally (within 500 miles) and ensure all event materials are sustainably sourced
  3. Set baseline goals for future events by reporting on 2024 actuals
  4. Increase education around sustainable attendee travel, and support carpooling and shuttling efforts
  5. Build a bridge between conference partners to increase sustainable operations in the City of Santa Fe

2024 Partners