When school districts talk about sustainability, the conversation often centers on plans, goals, and long-term commitments.
At Fayette County Public Schools, that conversation recently looked a little different. On May 1, the district hosted its inaugural Student Sustainability Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky: a milestone event that placed students at the center of the conversation around sustainability progress and implementation.
A New Step in the Sustainability Action Plan
Now in year two of implementing its Sustainability Action Plan, FCPS worked alongside Green Schools National Network to create an innovative structure designed to move sustainability work forward while giving students a meaningful leadership role in the process.
Rather than tackling every action plan priority at once, the district narrowed its focus to six goals for this year and next. Around those priorities, working groups were formed that included multiple stakeholders, and students helped co-lead the work.
As part of that process, students created infographics and short videos to help summarize progress and identify opportunities connected to those goals.
Students Presented to the Community
The symposium became the moment to bring that work to the broader community. Students from the student-led Sustainability Advisory Council presented their work to an audience that included the superintendent, district administrators, parents, elected officials, community partners, teachers, and fellow students.
For Sophia Young, an FCPS junior, the experience was deeply meaningful.
“This was such an enriching opportunity. I felt I actually had a voice within the community and that feeling will carry through in other parts of my life.”
Logan Poteat (FCPS Energy Manager, David DenHartog, and Sophia Young – FCPS student)
That sense of ownership reflects what made this event stand out. Students were not simply attending or observing, they were actively helping communicate progress, reflect on priorities, and contribute to implementation efforts.
Dr. Ron Chi, Chief Innovation Officer for FCPS, emphasized the significance of the symposium and the collaboration behind it:
“The FCPS sustainability dynamic duo of Tresine Logsdon and Logan Poteat coordinated a powerful symposium that lifted student voice. In collaboration with Green Schools National Network, FCPS is a national leader modeling how a focus on sustainability is financially, ecologically, socially, and academically a top priority!”
For David DenHartog, the event also points to a broader opportunity for schools thinking about sustainability leadership.
“This experience highlights the possibilities when we align student leadership with educational excellence through sustainability initiatives.”
The model developed in Fayette County is already inspiring similar approaches among other district partners, including Fayetteville, Milwaukee, and Boise.
As schools continue exploring how sustainability becomes part of long-term district culture, Fayette County’s approach offers an encouraging example of what can happen when students are invited to help lead the work.