Media Advisory: San Diego Unified Trains "Solar Champions"

MEDIA ADVISORY -- Dec. 3, 2013
Contact: Cynthia Reed-Porter, 619-546-3378

San Diego Unified, County Office of Education and Solar Contractor Team Up to Train "Solar Champions"

WHAT:  Nearly 30 San Diego Unified School District teachers are becoming "Solar Champions." Tomorrow, the school district will host a workshop for those teachers to help them incorporate the solar energy/technology they now have at their schools into their curriculum.

WHEN:  Wednesday, Dec. 2, 3:30-6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Physical Plant Operations Center, 4860 Ruffner Road, San Diego, CA 92111 -- Media parking will be available on site.

VISUALS: Assembly of solar car kits (provided by Main Street Power), activities focused on solar energy, demonstration of the on-site "energy portal" that provides historical and real-time energy production information that can be downloaded for use in the classroom, and other classroom kits/materials focused on energy conservation.

INTERVIEWS: Teachers, Main Street Power executive and curriculum consultant, Kim Bess, energy education coordinator at the San Diego County Office of Education; and district officials associated with sustainability programs and curriculum. (Interviews available in English and Spanish.)

MORE DETAILS: Main Street Power is a solar contractor that recently completed the installation of roof-top solar systems at 29 of the district's schools. As part of its contract with the district, Main Street Power is providing the teachers with training and classroom solar car kits, as well as materials on solar energy/technology that are aligned with the districts' science curriculum. The company is also giving each school a computer that will serve as an "energy portal."

In addition, Kim Bess, energy education coordinator at the San Diego County Office of Education, will walk the teachers through classroom kits/materials associated with "Energy and You," an energy efficiency education program aligned with the California Science Content Standards. The program is designed to teach students and their families the benefits of conserving energy, and how their actions can "save energy, save money, and save the planet!" "Energy and You" is supported by a grant from the Public Utilities Commission that requires all utility companies to provide energy conservation and education programs.

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Cynthia Reed-Porter, Communications Supervisor | Communications Office | San Diego Unified School District
Office: 858-637-3607 | Mobile: 619-546-3378 | E-mail: creed-porter@sandi.net



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