Redmond High environmental-science teacher wins $25,000 Green Prize

When he was a boy, one of Mike Town's heroes was Jacques Cousteau, the French explorer and filmmaker whose "Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" brought the beauty of the marine environment to viewers around the world.

So it seemed fitting that when Town was awarded a national environmental-education prize Monday, it was delivered by one of Cousteau's grandsons, Philippe.

Town, 51, who teaches environmental science at Redmond High, was presented the inaugural $25,000 Green Prize in Environmental Education from the NEA Foundation on Monday. The foundation advances student achievement by investing in public education, and it asked Cousteau, a correspondent on the TV networks Planet Green and Animal Planet, to help present the award at the school.

Town's program, "Cool School Challenge," shows kids how to do energy audits of their school buildings and, using math and science, reduce the carbon footprint by powering down computers at night, turning out lights that aren't being used, recycling, composting and a range of other strategies. About 150 participating schools across the country have saved an estimated 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse-gas emissions.

Redmond High estimates it's saved more than $30,000 a year in electricity and waste costs, and reduced carbon-dioxide emissions by more than 200,000 pounds.

"We have a lot of schools that do recycling, but they've taken it on steroids here," said Mary Lindquist, president of the Washington Education Association, who was on hand for the award.

The shaggy-haired Town, who describes himself as "an old hippie who happens to be an educator," decided to become a teacher because "it has this multiplier effect" — by teaching young people, he said, his passion for the environment can reach many more.

Students say Town — they all call him by his last name — does a masterful job of breaking down complex concepts and teaching why environmental issues are important. Plus, he's a lot of fun.

"I don't think he realizes it, but he's really relatable to kids," said junior Caroline Armijo, 17. "Everybody wants to do his work, and learn what he teaches, because he's just such a cool guy."

Armijo said when she moved here from Colorado two years ago, she knew nothing about environmental science. Now, inspired by Town, she's planning to apply to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., which is known for its environmental-studies program.

Town's Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science class is "not just another AP class where you memorize the facts and take the test — he wants to inspire people as well," said Alexa Kroon, 18, a senior, who's now taking his class on sustainability. She's going to Eckerd College to major in environmental studies.

"Every day he'll be like, 'I had a dream last night. I thought of something. I have to tell you guys,' and it'll come out and it'll be amazing — we'll all run with it," Kroon said. The class is currently developing a new transportation plan for the city of Redmond, and plans to introduce it to the City Council later this month.

"He just has such a legacy, and the fact that we have him as a teacher at our own school is such an honor," said Ellie Reese, 18, who's president of the school's environmental club and plans to be a wildlife biologist.

Town will have to put his teaching career on hold for a year, because he's been tapped by the National Science Foundation to do a one-year fellowship in Washington, D.C., starting in September, to work on science and environmental issues. He believes global climate change will do for environmental education what Russia's 1957 launch of the Sputnik orbiter did for science education.

Town and his wife, Meg, plan to use some of the prize money to increase the size of the solar array on their Duvall home. They also grow a lot of their own food and drive a hybrid car.

On Monday, for the awards ceremony, Town dressed in a brown hemp T-shirt and organic-cotton bluejeans. Dressing down is just who he is, he said. "Part of my credibility with my kids is to be who I am, and to be real comfortable in my own skin," he said.

"I do have one suit," he said, acknowledging he'll likely need it in Washington. "As they say, I clean up nice."

Katherine Long: 206-464-2219 or klong@seattletimes.com