One of the newest schools in the Illinois Solar Schools Program is Kewanee High School in Kewanee, Illinois.

The installation is a 1.25 kW PV system using 5 REC 250 watt solar panels and an Enphase inverter. The panels sit at a 35 degree angle and are mounted on the edge of the roof so they are visible to the students at the school for this school year and for many years to come.

Kewanee High School has over 500 students which is rather large for a rural school but the average
class size is only 17 students. James Bryan is the Principal and our primary contact. Here is how he describes his school:

Kewanee High School offers unique programs for a rural school.  Kewanee High School offers a wide range of Career and Technical Education courses in business, family and consumer sciences, agricultural, woods, and metals(including welding). Along with our traditional educational programming, students at Kewanee High School are offered multiple avenues to explore in order to prepare them for life after graduation.  Kewanee High School also offers “dual credit” courses with the local junior college, Black Hawk – East Campus. These dual credit courses allow students to earn both high school and college credit at the same time for a nominal fee.

On the South side of Chicago on South Rockwell Street, sits Gage Park High School. From a high perch at the top of the three story building, the six (6) SunTech photoelectric (PV) panels almost seem to be looking down the at the neighborhood. The solar electricity from these PV panels flows into the school and also helps to educate the students. As part of the educational side of this project, there is live data for the students to monitor and the school used curriculum provided by the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) from a series of teacher training workshops held in Chicago over the past few years. Most of the funding for the solar electricity system and all of the funding for the teacher training workshops came from grants funded by Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation in Chicago.

According to Gage Park Science Educator Patricia Parsons, “I found that before using this curriculum, students knew very little about solar energy and solar panels. After completing these activities, my students had a better understanding of solar energy, and how it will open up many doors for them in the future.”

The data from the Gage Park High School solar project can be found on the Illinois Solar Schools web site.

The panels were installed at 35 degree angle on the front of the school so that anyone entering the school can see the panels above their heads.

Gabriela Martin of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation is also happy with the Gage Park High School Solar School Project. “We have a long standing relationship with the Chicago Public Schools and the Gage Park Solar School Project is another example of that partnership. This project also demonstrates how it is possible to connect schools to green energy in a way that will enhance their education in science and math in the short term and may help them find green jobs in the long term. “

Gage Park Solar Panel

Gage Park Kids

Gage Park Gazebo

Allegro Academy

Rockford Illinois Mayor Lawrence “Larry” Morrissey spoke to the students at Allegro Academy in Rockford, Illinois recently at the school’s solar celebration. He told them how special their school was because it had a solar array on its roof that generated electricity from the sun. Mr. Shu Hong of the Solar Star Foundation was there along with Nick Poplawski of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation who both helped to fund the project. Illinois Clean Energy provided $8,000 in funding while the Solar Star Foundation provided a $1,000 grant.

Dale McCormack, Mayor Larry Morrissey, Nick Poplawski, and Dave Merrill

Nick Poplawski, Mr Shu Hong, Mayor Larry Morrissey, and Allegro Academy Students

Dale McCormack is in charge of the facility and he and Dave Merrill of Sunair Systems which did the installation were finally able to relax and enjoy the celebration. A group of music students played several songs under the direction of Ms Nanette Felix, principle harpist for the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.

Ms Nanette Felix and the school orchestra

While the kids may have had the most fun in the gym that day, Principal McCormack, seemed to be right behind them.

Principal McCormack

It is a great project and everyone there seemed convinced that the solar electricity system would provide some clean energy with a lot of educational support in the areas of science and math. Take a look at the solar schools website and the data for Allegro.

And for more information about the Solar-celebration ceremony, the school has included a number of pix and some video on the school’s web site.

Glebe Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia is simply a happy place. From my first step into the building, with its flamingo-pink walls and pet turtles (“please wash your hands after touching the turtles” suggested a sign in lobby), the school hummed with peaceful purpose. And the sense of focused calm went beyond the reason for my visit — celebrating the installation of a small, educational solar array. Even after the outdoor assembly had concluded, I felt a coordinated commitment to making learning joyful.

Glebe Elementary Principal, Jamie Borg, celebrating the first SolarWorld Solar2Schools installation

My role at Glebe was to help the school community celebrate SolarWorld’s first Solar2Schools initiative, and to thank the many people and organizations that made the installation of the 1.1 kilowatt system possible. Fortunately for all, it was a postcard perfect autumn morning, the sun shining warmly with not a cloud in the sky, as all 570 students, their teachers, a handful of smiling parents, and a gaggle of dignitaries gathered on the school field, accompanied by the 5th grade music ensemble, drumming under the new SolarWorld solar awning.

5th graders at Glebe Elementary drumming under the new SolarWorld solar awing

After remarks from Principal Jamie Borg and a few others, it was my turn to speak. I gave Astrum Solar, our installation partner, heartfelt thanks for their hard work on the project, and pointed out to the kids that the solar panels we were all looking at would still be there, generating clean renewable energy, in 25 years when they come back with their own kids to see the school they attended as youngsters.

Jamie Borg, Principal of Glebe Elementary School, interviews with local news station about SolarWorld Solar2Schools program

Then, channeling my own four boys and their delight in getting adults to look slightly silly, I led the school board members, PTA leaders, state elected officials, and yes, even Congressman Jim Moran, in singing, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

Amy Keiter addressing the audience

Another form of alternative energy, the wind, blew over my SolarWorld banner, but by that time we were ready for the ribbon-cutting. The ceremonial scissors were almost as tall as the handsome, confident pre-teen who wielded them, with some assistance by Congressman Moran. As I packed up my scattered belongings, shamelessly eavesdropping, I was delighted to hear school administrators and parents scheming to add more solar panels to the school. “They look like they belong here,” said one of the Arlington School District facilities manager, with apparent surprise.

Glebe Elementary's Student Body President gets ribbon-cutting honors

The National Energy Education Development project (www.need.org) will be SolarWorld’s partner on the education component of our Solar2Schools efforts, and Duncan and Jacob at Astrum Solar told me they’re willing participate in another Solar2Schools project, so I haven’t alienated anyone yet.

Loading my gear into the taxi for the trip to the airport and home to Oregon, I felt like I was in the closing scene of a movie. The credits should roll as the cab pulled away from the school, the kids playing happily on the field, the sun streaming through the brightly colored trees. Cue the music. Reprise. “You are my sunshine…”

-Amy Keiter, Community Relations Manager, SolarWorld Americas

On November 19, 2011, the Walmart Foundation sponsored a training workshop in Washington D.C. for teachers from Washington schools that received solar photovoltaic systems from the Walmart Foundation Solar Schools Project. The National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) of Manassas, Virginia, conducted the workshop, held at John Burroughs Education Campus, an elementary school on Monroe Street NE, and one of the four D.C. solar schools. These workshops are conducted for schools and school districts who have received the Walmart Foundation funded solar installations

The workshop started at 8:30 AM and lasted until 3:30 PM.NEED provides printed materials, curriculum-by- age group, and classroom hands-on materials for students. The workshop participants worked with the sets of hands-on materials as part of their training experience.

Gardening

In Washington DC, the schools that received grants for 5 kW PV installations from the Walmart Foundation were:

John Burroughs Education Campus Elementary School
Brent Elementary School
Anne Beers Elementary School
Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter High School

This workshop is the third in a series of Walmart Foundation funded solar workshops. Over thirty teachers participated, with some coming from several other nearby school districts. These teachers join their colleagues in Minneapolis, Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles to be part of over 250 educators receiving classroom curriculum and hands-on solar kits for their schools.

Solar Panels

NEED was honored to have two great facilitators for the workshop. Both DaNel Hogan and Matthew Inman have been recognized this year as U.S. Department of Energy Einstein Distinguished Educators. They also serve as advisors to the U.S. Department of Energy. Both DaNel and Matthew are fun and engaging facilitators and NEED is honored to have them on the team. Capital Sun Group, Ltd., installed the four systems. President Carlo La Porta briefed work shop participants on how they can monitor and capture data on the amount of solar energy the school systems deliver via an internet connection. This data is available on the internet for all of the Walmart Foundation funded schools . He gave the teachers a tour of the solar array on the roof and the inverter and Webbox interconnection device.

Special thanks for the success of the program goes to Eupert Braithwaite whose leadership helped navigate the project through D.C. Public School System channels. The District of Columbia was a challenging location because three of the schools are historic buildings or in a historic zone and the National Fine Arts Commission had to review the design plans.

If you would like to find out more information or to see the data from any or all of these schools, you can find them at solorschools.org:

If you would like to learn more about NEED and their teacher training programs, including a calendar of upcoming workshops, you can visit need.org

–Glen Kizer

We all have heroes. People who influence our lives in such profound ways that they not only inspire us to do more, they inspire us to be more. When I met Mary Spruill I was inspired to be more because she showed me the possibility of having a career in the field of renewable energy. The idea that I could make a living in this world by following my passion and working in the renewable sector was novel to me. I always thought that I would have to either be an environmental advocate OR make a stable living, I didn’t know that I could do both. She led me to this realization by example. As a true powerhouse, Mary was not only making a living as an environmental advocate, she was the executive director of a national organization known as the National Energy Education Development project! My life changed forever one fateful summer in 2007 when Mary Spruill flew me to Washington DC and gave me an award and by-so-doing, changed my life forever.

Mary Spruill

The result of meeting Mary , for me, has been less of a ripple effect and more like a “tidal wave effect.” Her networking and assistance helped me get into college, helped me stay on my career path, helped me connect with amazing people and most recently, helped me begin the career of my dreams. The way that she did this was though networking. Mary is a big fan of networking and she is truly a master of it. She gave my name to a colleague who needed a presenter to come to the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. At that conference I met Glen Kizer, a champion for energy education and a great new friend, and I also was able to network and socialize with all of the solar companies that were present. So many solar companies, so many business opportunities for a young, recent college grad, and so little time! I made my way through the crowds and found the companies I had researched the night before. I had one company at the top of my list, and after a solid three days of networking and resume pedaling, I secured myself several offers, one being with my first choice. It was a good weekend, to say the least. I ended up getting the job of my dreams with an American solar company that I am completely smitten over and my life has been forever changed! And it is no exaggeration or even stretch to say, it is all in part thanks to Mary.

Mary Spruill speaking at the solar celebration at the Para Los Ninos Charter School in Los Angeles

Whether Mary knows how much impact she has on the children and young adults she interacts with or not is unclear to me. If she does know, she is far too modest. The following interview, which I was lucky enough to schedule with her this month, shows her modesty and her realness in its true light. She is more than an inspiration; she is a shining example of a selfless service to children, the environmental sector and the world. I hope to be just like Mary when I grow up.

An interview with Mary Spruill

Q: Where were you born?

Roanoke, Virginia. I lived there for 18 years and my family still lives there.

Q: Did you have brothers or sisters?

A: No, I was an only child. Having no brothers or sisters required me to really choose my closest friends who are, in many ways, the siblings I didn’t actually have. I learned to choose my friends carefully and was all the better for it. I enjoyed being an only child.

Q: Did you like school? What was your favorite subject?

A: I liked school a lot. I loved elementary school. Good teachers are what made me love school. The great teachers in my life had a substantial impact on who I became and what I did with my life. Math was always difficult for me but I did my best. I was always drawn to engineering but math was a roadblock for me on that path, so instead I designed my career around my strengths. In 7th and 8th grade I had teachers who were involved in the National Energy Education Development Project and they really inspired me. I participated in a year-long energy education outreach program and we submitted a NEED youth awards project and got to go to the awards ceremony in Washington DC. It was very exciting and I knew I wanted to be a part of this organization beyond my middle school participation. After this, several of us became NEED tutors in our four feeder elementary schools. This was the beginning and I’ve worked for NEED ever since. I worry sometimes about the fact that I’ve never had a “real job”, haha! But I love every minute of it!

Comment: This statement by. Mary made me laugh but then it also made me stop to think… Our society is so focused on the virtue of “hard work” that when someone finds a job that takes considerable time and work and effort but at the same time makes them happy and smile every day, they worry that they don’t have a real job… All this thought made me feel was gratitude that Mary helped me learn that lesson young; I can go to work every day in a good mood and still be a productive member of society and have a “real job.” Thank you Mary for leading by example!

Q: What did you want to be when you “grew up”?

A: It changed frequently. I wanted to be a doctor but life sciences didn’t interest me. Then I wanted to be a vet, but I hated cats. When I was in college I wanted to work for the US Foreign Service, and work in America’s embassies and consulates around the world. I took the Foreign Service Exam, got the job and then realized I really liked what I was doing part-time at NEED. I started as an undergrad only working a few days a week and worked my way all the way to becoming executive director in 2007. In 2007, I felt like the title finally caught up with the workload. I was used to having a lot of responsibility but very little authority. With the new title, I was finally really able to make things happen and consider our strategy for helping more kids, teachers, and individuals understand energy! Our organization is growing and our staff is young and energized. The best part is we are advocates for knowledge about energy issues, not advocates for any one particular issue. I love my job.

Q: What is your favorite part about your job today?

A: Hanging out with our teachers and students and the energy professionals we work with each day! I also love discussing energy issues and solutions with our students, they are so full of hope and inspiration – yes, that’s you Roxie! . Energy is an amazing subject in which both social and physical sciences come together; from deciding which type of energy to use, to where to produce it, to its long term implications, it all has both a social and scientific aspect – I love this about energy. Energy can never be created nor destroyed, and it is most certainly not boring.

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to kids growing up in the world today, about becoming successful leaders of the “green movement” what would it be?

A: The biggest piece of advice I have for kids is to figure out what you like to do and figure out how to meet the people you need to help you do it. The people you have around you and have in your network are everything. Once you figure that out, then you also have to find a way to also make the world around you a better place with that passion. Everything we do on this planet – from food production to oil drilling to green energy solutions – everything can be done in a better, cleaner, more efficient way and that should be our universal goal. To do what we do, in a better, cleaner, more sustainable fashion. So, no matter what you have a passion for, even if it’s not in the energy sector, you can still influence the energy consumption of our planet by working to improve efficiency within your field. We can all make the world a better place; we just have trust that what we are good at is what we were put here to do… even if it means never getting a “real job.”

I would just like to say, one more time, on behalf of everyone whose life has ever been improved by Mary Spruill, Thank You!!! for your service, your energy, your attitude and your humor, we all love you, Mary.

Roxie Brown

Roxie Brown in Washington DC