 | 1.5 LU / HSW |
| 1.5 LU / HSW |
Room: D137-138
Audience: Architects, Engineers, Specialized Consultants, Facilities Personnel, Educators, School Administrators, Educational Policymakers, Community Stakeholders with a Particular Focus on Facility Management
Call to Action:
Abstract: Now is the perfect time to take action on indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and school districts. With the rise in wildfire smoke events and other climate disasters, along with the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s school communities are recognizing how indoor air can have significant effects on health. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a robust selection of technical assistance resources, networking groups, on-demand training webinars, and more for schools and school districts to implement effective IAQ management programs in their facilities. In this session, you will learn not only the benefits of effective IAQ management but also how to extend your collaborative reach and advance your commitment to healthy indoor school environments by connecting with powerful EPA-funded partners. Collaboration, partnership, and unity among diverse stakeholders are key to ensuring a healthy and optimal learning environment. These factors continue to be central components in EPA’s efforts and commitment to healthy IAQ in schools. The recent Inflation Reduction Act funding is set to transform the way schools and school districts approach IAQ. Join EPA in this session to learn how to connect and share knowledge with the newly funded Inflation Reduction Act grantees and learn how EPA’s resources and network can help promote IAQ action in your school and school district facilities.
Learning Objectives:
Sheila has worked for over 4 decades with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and dedicated her career to creating healthy learning environments for school occupants. Sheila has performed extensive outreach and communication and works collaboratively with organizations, providing technical assistance to educate about ways to manage and reduce exposure to indoor environmental pollutants in schools and at-risk populations. She holds a B.A. from Sojourner Douglas College and an M.P.A. from American University.
Mandy is the Director of Facilities for Weld County School District 6 in Greeley-Evans. District 6 serves over 23,000 students in 29 schools and six charter schools throughout the Greeley-Evans area. District 6 passed a $395M bond issue in 2019 and has current or complete bond work in nearly every school, including the removal of more than half of 142 modular classrooms that were in use prior to the bond. Before joining District 6, Mandy worked as a Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer, focused on K-12 construction.
Jessica has been working on indoor environments programs at the EPA for four years, engaging diverse stakeholders on improving indoor air quality both in school environments and in the international household energy space. She has a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo and is pursuing an MPA in Environmental Policy from George Washington University.
Assessment of the School Facility
The ability to objectively evaluate a learning environment post-occupancy and utilize that data to improve future projects. Implements a plan for educational commissioning that provides guidance on how to use and maximize the learning environment to meet the foundational vision established in the planning phase.