Jill Krysinski

My name is Jill Krysinski and I am a high school science teacher. I teach at Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, IL. We are a South suburb of Chicago. I have been teaching for 9 years. I also sponsor my school science club. In 2006, my colleague invited me to research renewable energies with my science students through a grant he won. In my physical science classes, we build toy cars that ran on fuel cells. In my science club, we built a large model city from the future that did not use any fossil fuels. The city took the entire school year to build. My science club members had to research renewable energies determine how the city folk would get electricity, heat, and transportation fuel. They had to plan and design a future city. Then we built a 3d model. It was an incredible year of exploration and learning for me, as well as my students. At the end of the school year, May of 2007, we hosted an Alternative Energy Fair for the students, staff, and community. It was a huge success. We invited local drivers of renewable energy vehicles for a car show; we invited Earth Adventures to talk about climate change inside a larger than life inflatable Earth, and many local “green” organizations and vendors. I was able to network and meet many “green” thinking individuals that helped me on my journey to become a “green hero.”

Besides my colleague, Chris Clausing, who introduced me to the world of renewable energies, I meet a traveling group of 20-somethings that drove a bus that used waste vegetable oil for fuel. They travel across the USA to educate Americans about renewable fuels and energy. I was inspired. They called their group “BIOTOURS” and they were revolutionary! They came to our campus in a large, Bluebird Bus. They explained how they used straight vegetable oil to run the diesel engine. They explained how it worked and why it was important that we start thinking about and teaching about renewable energy forms. It was then, that day that I watched 100’s of student’s pile into their bus and learn about biofuels, the climate, and other forms of energy, that I decided I had to get my own bus. In the summer of 2007, by writing letters requesting a diesel bus or for monetary donations, I was able to get a 15 passenger bus. I was able to fix the bus through donations from American Soybean Association, American Caner Society of IL, and Nova Biofuels. I spent the next year, working with students to develop a renewable energy outreach program called “Kids Teaching Kids.” The idea was to have my high school students’ travel in the biodiesel bus and teach local elementary students about renewable energy. In the January of 2008, I applied for my first grant to fund my project. I never thought I would win, but I did. I received an A+ for Energy Grant from BP for $10,000. I also made many contacts during this year by taking the bus to various environmental fairs and events. It was in the Spring of 2008, that I met with Earth Day Networks. We formed a great partnership. I began to get more comfortable finding grants and applying for them. This opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. Through all of the contacts I made that year, I was motivated begin many new “green projects” at my school.

Here is a summary of the “green” projects that were funded by Earth Day Networks, BP, and Ford Motor Fund:

• Biodiesel Bus Outreach Program (elementary students, scouts, environmental events, fairs, or parades)
• Annual Alternative Energy Fair (students, staff, and community)
• 36 Solar Panels on school roof and live solar data on school web page(Earth Day Networks)
• School wide recycling (plastic, aluminum, paper, ink, batteries, cell phones, e-waste)
• Professional Greenhouse (available for use to any teacher or club)
• Two living walls (vertical gardens) in biology classrooms
• Eco Mural (designed and painted by students with non-toxic paints)
• Planted trees on campus
• Green cleaning supplies for maintenance
• Prairie Restoration garden and landscape on campus
• Prairie restoration at Irons Oaks Environmental Center (cleared invasive species for native species)
• Brownfield Education (partnered with EPA and local city planners to develop and implement curriculum)
• Rooftop garden for culinary arts teachers to grow food
• Partner with Alliance for Climate Education (give presentations to our students about climate change)

My students have been great! I could not do any projects with their ideas and involvement. We will continue to develop more green projects and inspire more students. In fact, our next project is recycled art. We are going to make wallets/ purses from old juice pouches and other “garbage.” I never thought of myself as a “hero”, I am just doing what I believe is right, current, and relevant….not too mention loads of fun!