Sustainability Spotlight: New Assistant Sustainability Coordinator
The Lincoln Public Schools Sustainability Team is growing! Thanks to funding provided by the Nebraska Department of Energy and Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Program, there are now two full time staff members supporting sustainability initiatives across the district. Mandy Koehler was hired in January as the new Assistant Sustainability Coordinator.
In December of 2020, Koehler graduated from University of Nebraska – Lincoln with degrees in Environmental Studies and Biological Sciences. “I had always been connected to sustainable actions and aware of climate issues while growing up,” she said. “So when choosing my majors in college I decided to pursue a career that played a part in those fields and worked towards a solution to the many environmental problems we are facing.”
Koehler’s first connection with LPS came from her Environmental Studies 101 course in the fall of 2016 when she helped carry out a waste audit at Campbell Elementary school. After that experience, she was eager to apply when a Sustainability Internship with LPS became available. Throughout her time as an intern, Koehler helped with community outreach, classroom presentations, data management, and new waste diversion initiatives.
In her new role, Koehler will be able to continue supporting waste diversion programs across the district, helping staff and students with reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting. She is joining current Sustainability Coordinator, Brittney Albin, who has been in that role since 2015.
“I am thrilled to have Mandy on board to support our programs, because I know she will do a great job growing and improving waste diversion across the district”, Albin said. “This also allows me to dedicate more time to other sustainability related efforts like energy and water conservation, transportation, and outdoor learning.”
When it comes to taking on big environmental issues, Koehler has come to realize that every issue, concern, and solution is connected. “This can be daunting, but it excites me because you can find opportunities to improve efforts and collaborate with others everywhere. It’s like a huge moving puzzle!”
With the momentum of the growing department, the Sustainability Team is looking forward to providing continued support for district environmental initiatives.
Updated February 17, 2021
