Newtown Resident Named National Healthy Schools Hero

HARTFORD — Newtown resident Joellen Lawson was one of five individuals nationwide to be named a National Healthy Schools Hero at an award ceremony held at the National Building Museum on May 4 in Washington, D.C.

This event celebrated National Healthy Schools Week, which was sponsored by the Healthy Schools Network in collaboration with the Council for Education Facility Planners, the Environmental Protection Agency, American Public Health Association, Environmental Building News, Collaborative for High Performance Schools, Green Seal, and the National Coalition for Healthier Schools.

From April 30 to May 4, schools, parents, personnel, advocates, and agencies from across the country united to promote healthy and green school environments for all children.

“I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the volunteers of the Connecticut Foundation for Environmentally Safe Schools who have supported our mission to promote policies, practices and resources that protect school occupants from environmental health hazards” remarked Ms Lawson upon learning about her award.

Ms Lawson’s 23-year career as a special educator and consultant ended in 1998 due to debilitating illness linked by experts to exposure to indoor air pollution in the former McKinley public school in Fairfield. Her story is featured in the book, My Office Is Killing Me, written by nationally renowned Indoor Quality Specialist, Jeffrey C. May.

Ms Lawson, the founder and now honorary president of The Connecticut Foundation for Environmentally Safe Schools (ConnFESS) was unable to attend the May 4 ceremony due to ongoing health problems. As a result, Claire Bennett, executive director for the Healthy School’s Network presented Ms Lawson with her award during a media event held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

“We thank Joellen for her courage, strategic vision, care, and persistence that has led to widely supported state policy successes,” said Ms Bennett. “Joellen has contributed a significant voice to the national conversation on promoting healthy school environments for children, personnel, and communities.”

Ms Lawson and ConnFESS played a pivotal role in shaping and passing Connecticut’s indoor air quality for schools law in 2003. This nonprofit, all-volunteer organization has continued to track and educate the public about existing and pending school environmental health laws.

“Joellen Lawson has been a civic leader in our communities for a number of years, first as a special education teacher and now as a committed advocate for the health and well-being of school children,” said State Senator John McKinney who represents the towns of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, and Weston. “I congratulate Joellen on receiving this most deserving recognition and look forward to supporting her ongoing efforts to promote healthy and green schools for many years to come.”

ConnFESS Acting President Diane Ethier of Pomfret attended the award ceremony and took the opportunity to identify school districts that have made strides toward creating safe and healthy schools. She recognized the Green Clean programs at Amity Regional District #5, Fairfield, Farmington, Lyme-Old Lyme District #18, Montville, Ridgefield, Simsbury, Stratford, and Torrington.

ConnFESS has also released several reports on the implementation and enforcement of PA03-220, An Act Concerning Indoor Air Quality in Schools, that can be downloaded at pollutionfreeschools.org.