ILGSP is a year-long project where green teams meet semi-regularly between October and May. Mentors and Schools work together to design a meeting schedule that works for them. We recommend meeting with your green team at least once/month. During Stage 1 of the program, discuss a meeting schedule with your mentor to ensure that you complete all three chapters of the IGSP Sustainability Workbook by January 31st. Staff will be there to make sure you always know what dates and deadlines are coming up!

The Green Team can include and get support from other Green Schools Champions like school administration, teachers, school nurses, facility managers, custodians, food services, educational support staff, student organizations, parents, parent-teacher organizations, and community organizations engaged in the school.

Discover how school sustainability benefits all stakeholders.

• Gain access to tools and support to navigate your green schools journey, no matter where your school is starting from.
• Teachers, staff, and school community members work together to create healthier, sustainable learning environments.
• Receive support and guidance from a Green Schools Mentor and connect students to green building careers.
• Connect with a network of Green Schools Champions that are sharing resources, best practices, and challenges in undertaking school sustainability initiatives.
• Earn recognition for green schools work through an annual celebration and create a pathway for recognition in the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools program.

The Illinois Green Schools Project is open to all K-12 schools in Illinois. Schools can participate no matter where they are on their sustainability journey, whether they are just getting started or already have green initiatives in place.

To participate in the Illinois Green Schools Project your school will complete the registration form, which will be open from September 9th-November 1st. Each school that registers will need approval to participate from the head of school or principal prior to completing the registration.

Additionally, each Green Team is required to have one faculty or staff from the school serve as the Green Team Leader, or point of contact in the program. This leader will work together with the Green Schools Mentor and Green Team to identify, investigate, and implement the school’s selected project, and submit final results to Illinois Green Alliance.

Illinois Green Schools Project participating schools submit a short written report, impact stats, along with a visual representation to share results of their project, not limited to photos, drawings, videos or other media. Photo releases are also required along with the submission.

These materials will help us celebrate and highlight your school’s accomplishments during the Illinois Green Schools Project Celebration Event.

We aim to support schools at every step of their sustainability journey. If you are unable to complete the IGSP Sustainability Workbook by the January 31st deadline, continue working on it throughout the year, and instead of submitting a project report, you'll submit a project check-in to share your progress and make plans to continue your work next year!

If you're worried about meeting the January 31st deadline, consider meeting with your Green Schools Mentor for assistance.

The three chapters of the IGSP Sustainability Workbook are intended to be completed in collaboration with your Green Schools Mentor and your other green team members. Some of the questions within the self-assessment might require definitions and descriptions provided by your mentor and the answers might only be known by your school's facilities or grounds manager. 

If you don't know an answer, don't sweat it! These resources are for learning, discovery, and to inspire important conversations between school stakeholders. It's okay to answer "no" or "I don't know" and move on! 

The Illinois Green Schools Project Mentors are volunteers from the Illinois Green Alliance that have sustainability and green building expertise, including architects, engineers, designers, builders, and more. Schools will be matched with Green Schools Mentors to help them complete their IGSP Sustainability Workbook. 

Learn more about the IGSP Sustainability Workbook.

The primary objective of IGSP Mentors is to help their school complete the IGSP Sustainability Workbook. Mentors are expected to meet regularly with their school from October to the end of January, when the IGSP Sustainability Workbook is due. We estimate that mentors will spend 2-5 hours working with their schools each month.

It is up to the mentor and school point of contact to work together to plan meeting times and schedule communication.

If a school and mentor wish to continue meeting after the IGSP Workbook has been completed, they are welcome to do so, but continued mentorship is not required or expected.

• Mentors should have a passion for creating sustainable learning environments and working with schools.
• Complete the Green Schools Mentor registration, which opens in September.
• Attend a Green Schools Mentor Orientation.
• Commit to 2-5 hours of working with your school each month. Green Schools Mentors interact and communicate with schools by phone, email, video conferencing, and in-person meetings (as health and safety guidelines allow).
• Participate in Illinois Green Schools Project meet-ups and activities.
• Provide sustainability expertise and guidance to your assigned school as they complete their IGSP Sustainability Workbook.
• Attend the Celebration Event.
• Be an active member of the Illinois Green Alliance. Learn more and become a member.

Complete the Green Schools Mentor registration form (Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open now through October 1st). Once we receive your registration form, Illinois Green staff will follow-up with additional details and to confirm your participation. Before applying, please review the Green Schools Mentor responsibilities above.

• As a Green Schools Mentor, you will be matched with a K-12 school in Illinois to complete Stage 1 of the program. Mentors provide guidance and expertise as they work together with their school to complete the IGSP Sustainability Workbook.
• Mentors will meet with the school's Green Team Leader, or point of contact, who is typically a teacher or staff/faculty member, and their green team, made up of additional school stakeholders like the school's principal and facilities manager.
• The Green Team can include and get support from other Green Schools Champions like school administration, teachers, school nurses, facility managers, custodians, food services, educational support staff, student organizations, parents, parent-teacher organizations, and community organizations engaged in the school.