Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

None of what we do here at KEEP would mean anything without our amazing teachers taking it out into the world and using it with students! We’re proud to support all of the incredible work you do to educate the next generation, whether that’s in a K-12 classroom, an afterschool program, summer program, or anywhere else that energy can be explored. Hats off to all of our amazing educators around the state!

KEEP announces 2025 Energy Educators of the Year!

KEEP is proud to announce Allison Bender and Nick Gagnon as our 2025 Energy Educators of the Year. The Energy Educator of the Year Award highlights the outstanding network of educators across the state of Wisconsin - empowering students, teachers, and community members to make informed energy choices now and for a sustainable future! Awardees received $1,000 to further their energy education efforts and were honored at the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education’s 2025 Celebration of Excellence Awards Ceremony Saturday, May 3, in Fitchburg.

Allison Bender

For the past six years, Allison Bender has served as the Outreach Program Manager at the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she has transformed energy education into a dynamic experience for thousands of students, educators, and community members.

One of her standout achievements is the growth of the Wisconsin KidWind Challenge, a statewide competition that engages students in designing and testing small-scale wind turbines. Under Allison’s leadership, the event has expanded from five teams to 19, necessitating a move to the 40,000-square-foot Discovery Building. There, Allison added hands-on renewable energy exhibits that enrich the learning experience for students and their families alike.

“Allison is the type of person you want to work with when you have big ideas and want to accomplish something new and innovative.” said Dick Anderson, Wisconsin KidWind Advisor.

Allison coordinates and hosts student field trips to WEI, reaching thousands of K-12 students from across Wisconsin. She also spearheaded WEI’s participation in UW Science Expeditions and Family Gardening Day, opening doors to science education for hundreds of community members.

“Allison has a keen ability to build partnerships that help expand the reach of energy education in Wisconsin,” said Scott Williams, WEI Research and Education Coordinator. “I am perpetually impressed by her ability to engage a wide variety of stakeholders in energy education and continuously build and improve outreach programming to ensure that all are included and have a high-quality learning experience.”

KEEP and the entire energy education community celebrate Allison Bender for her commitment, creativity, and collaborative spirit. Her work exemplifies the values of sustainable education and community engagement.

Nick Gagnon

Since 2001, Nick Gagnon has served as a Science Teacher at Chippewa Falls High School, where he has distinguished himself as a passionate leader in renewable energy education. Nick’s contributions include leading professional development workshops for educators, creating a comprehensive online energy education course, attending national conferences such as the National Energy Education Summit, and pioneering the use of flipped classrooms to enhance student engagement.

“Nick's dedication to environmental education and hands-on learning is unmatched,” said Chippewa Falls High School Principal Donna Goodman. “He’s not only an incredible teacher but also a catalyst for change within our district and community.”

In 2022, Nick and a small group of students began the Chippewa Falls High School Green Team to focus on sustainability and energy conservation. Under his mentorship, Green Team students have achieved a long list of accomplishments, including:

earning FAA drone pilot certifications and creating thermal imaging maps to identify heat loss in district buildings.
securing more than $180,000 in grant funding for renewable energy projects, including a 37.8 kW solar system for Hope Village (a nonprofit that offers tiny housing alternatives for Chippewa County residents) and a 65+ kW solar system on the high school.
speaking publicly at events at the local, state and national levels.

“Nick’s vision and execution are nothing short of phenomenal,” said Susan Kern, Chippewa Falls Area School District's executive director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. “His leadership has sparked meaningful, lasting change - not just in our schools, but across the broader Chippewa Falls community.”

KEEP and the entire energy education community celebrate Nick Gagnon for his unwavering commitment to student engagement, curriculum innovation, and community impact. His work reflects his tireless work ethic, innovative spirit, and dedication to preparing students to become thoughtful, environmentally conscious leaders.

Learn more and watch celebration videos!

Renew Our Schools winners announced

Two Wisconsin schools have emerged as champions in the 2025 Spring Renew Our Schools energy conservation competition. Golda Meir School triumphed in the Novice Cohort, while McFarland High School led the Alumni Cohort, claiming their third consecutive victory.

The statewide competition, which ran this spring, challenged 13 schools to reduce their electricity usage and implement energy-conscious practices. Collectively, participating schools achieved a remarkable 3.55% reduction in electricity use, saving 89,244 kWh - enough to power 8.3 homes for a year! These savings not only highlight the program’s environmental impact but also represent thousands of dollars in avoided utility costs.

Golda Meir School: Rising Stars

Milwaukee’s Golda Meir School, participating for the first time, powered their way to the top of the Novice Cohort. Under the guidance of educator Tina Gleason, the Golda Green Team completed an impressive 32 School Energy Actions. Technical support was provided by Chelsea Malacara, Milwaukee Public Schools Sustainability Project Specialist, who was instrumental in getting the eGauge electricity datalogger installed in the school.

Their efforts culminated in the creation of a comprehensive school energy policy focused on minimizing "vampire loads" (devices that drain power when not in use), eliminating unnecessary lighting, and fostering energy awareness among students and staff.

As a reward for their outstanding performance, Golda Meir received a $2,000 cash prize, earmarked for further carbon footprint reduction initiatives at their school.

McFarland High School: Super Novas

McFarland High School proved once again that consistency is key, winning the Alumni Cohort for the third straight year. Led by educator Wendy Pliska and the ever-dedicated McFarland Green Team, the school completed 32 School Energy Actions, matching Golda Meir’s total.

McFarland’s winning formula included the update and implementation of a robust school-wide energy policy aimed at tackling temperature inconsistencies, improving lighting habits, and combating phantom power drains. The school earned a $2,000 cash prize, which they plan to reinvest in sustainability initiatives to further shrink their environmental impact.

Looking Ahead

Every year, participating students prove that small changes can have a big impact! It is inspiring to see young people leading the charge toward a more sustainable future. The Renew Our Schools competition is more than a contest. It’s a movement aimed at empowering students to take real action in their schools and communities. Each year, more schools join the program and find that with the right tools, support, and commitment, meaningful change is within reach!

Registration is now open for the 2025-26 school year. Whether you're a seasoned competitor like McFarland or a rising star like Golda Meir, there's never been a better time to renew your school!

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

In-person Offerings

• KidWind Educator Workshop | 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., August 19 | Madison College, Madison

• KidWind Educator Workshop | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., August 27 | Sheboygan South High School, Sheboygan

On-Demand Offerings

• Climate Education for Wisconsin – On-Demand

• Climate Education for Wisconsin – CERTIFICATE VERSION – On-Demand

• Energy Education: Concepts and Practices - Online Module

KEEP PD List

Join KEEP at WAAE PDC

KEEP will be at the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) Professional Development Conference (PDC) in Oshkosh June 22-26.

Visit our exhibit table, check out our KidWind Mini Challenge session, or join us on an agrivoltaics-focused field trip.

Scholarships Still Available! Summer Institute

The Teach Climate Network Summer Institute will be held online July 14-15, with an in-person Wisconsin Cohort Day July 17 at Horicon Marsh.

Limited scholarships are available! On the registration page, complete all required fields and click “Check here if you would like to be considered for a scholarship” to be contacted by Climate Gen.

Wisconsin Energy Facts for All!

Looking for an engaging way to introduce energy topics to your students or test their knowledge about Wisconsin's energy landscape? We’ve got you covered with three brand-new, ready-to-use resources!

Our interactive multiple-choice Q&A presentations tackle questions like:

• What percentage of Wisconsin’s electricity comes from renewable sources?

• How many miles of electric transmission lines run through the state?

Choose the format that works best for your classroom - whether it’s a Canva Autoplay Presentation, Google Slideshow, or a Kahoot! Quiz – it’s a flexible and fun way to spark curiosity and boost energy literacy.

Canva

Google

Kahoot!

Explore Purpose-Built Lesson Collections

KEEP lessons just got easier to navigate! In addition to browsing lessons by focus area (energy concepts, energy conservation, or renewable energy) or grade level, you can now explore nine different purpose-built collections, each with their own theme or series of related lessons. Explore lessons about climate change, solar energy, personal finance, and much more!

View Lessons

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The KEEP program is funded with generous support by Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric, We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, WPPI Energy, and Xcel Energy.

Published May 2025