Wayne County Green Schools
Together, Wayne County and Your School can build a better environment!
Welcome to Wayne County's Green School program - the 18th year!
Wayne County continues to showcase our school's environmental leadership, while encouraging students, staff, and parents to improve energy conservation and become environmental stewards. Public Act 301 (2010) is the updated and revised P.A. 146 (2006) encourages all public and private schools to voluntarily implement energy saving and environmental activities and become recognized as a Michigan Green School.
The Wayne County Department of Public Services Environmental Services Division (DPS-ESD) continues to implement this program and recognize schools that achieve 10 or more energy saving and environmental activities in an academic year. The activities are set up in categories: Recycling, Energy Saving, Environmental Protection, and Miscellaneous. This is an annual recognition, so schools must re-apply each year to remain a Wayne County Michigan Green School. All schools recognized as a Wayne County Michigan Green School will receive an indoor/outdoor Michigan Green Schools banner and a certificate signed by the Wayne County CEO to proudly display as your school continues its efforts to reduce energy usage, recycle and protect Michigan's natural resources.
Wayne County schools can achieve the following Green School Designations, depending on the number of specified energy saving and environmental activities are completed.
Designation of Activities / Points
- Green 10-14 Points
- Emerald 15-19 Points
- Evergreen 20+ Points
If you have any questions, contact Susan Thompson by email at sthompso@waynecountymi.gov or by phone at 734-326-5515.
New and Important Information - Green School Applications
2025-2026 Green Schools Application Information
Wayne County adopted the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Environment (EGLE) Green Schools application and online application procedure. Schools seeking a Green School designation are required to submit the application through the EGLE Green Schools online portal. The online portal for the 2025-2026 school year is open for submitting applications from January 1, 2026, through March 8, 2026.
The draft application may be used to record Green School activities and then cut and paste from that document into the online portal.
Applications submitted by email or Google Docs links to the Wayne County Green Schools coordinator will not be accepted and will be returned to the respective school.
Once the application submission is completed via the online portal, the Wayne County Green Schools coordinator receives notice that an application was received and ready for review. Once the application is reviewed and the designation assigned, an automated e-mail will notify the respective school contacts of that designation. The points required for each Green School are unchanged from previous years.
EGLE issues a Green School Certificate, a window cling, and the school location is placed on the Michigan Green Schools map. A Green School flag may be ordered from EGLE.
Green School Contacts
Susan Thompson - Wayne County Green School Coordinator
sthompso@waynecountymi.gov
734-326-5515
Samantha Lichtenwald – Michigan (EGLE) Green Schools Coordinator
EGLE-MI-Green-Schools@Michigan.gov
If technical issues arise with access to the portal or submitting the application, please contact:
EGLE GIS Services Unit
EGLE-Maps@Michigan.gov
Wayne County Green School Teacher Receives National Award
Mr. Michael Craig is a special education teacher and horticulture program instructor at the Charles R. Drew Transition Center in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). Charles Drew Transition Center achieved a certified Green School designation for the last 12 years, earning an Evergreen award 11 times.
Mr. Craig was named the 2025 National Special Education Teacher of the Year from the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC), the largest international professional organization dedicated to high-quality education that is inclusive and equitable for individuals with disabilities. Learn more about the CEC at: https://exceptionalchildren.org/
Supplemental Links and Information
Green School Activity Ideas