Outstanding Educator
Michael Hotz

Michael Hotz, Science Teacher, Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, Kansas

Michael Hotz teaches a range of science subjects at Wyandotte High School and incorporates environmental education into all the courses he teaches, with PLT at the core. In 2006, he helped his students form a Green Team to become a PLT GreenSchool. His students developed an outdoor classroom, raised garden beds, and aquaponics system. Under his leadership, they launched a “Save a Teacher” Campaign to save enough energy to make up the cost of one teacher’s salary when Wyandotte was faced with the threat of staff cuts due to budget shortfalls. They instituted many energy-saving projects and were able to meet their goal. He and his students mentored another PLT GreenSchool in the district. Michael regularly gives presentations and trainings to encourage other teachers to use PLT.

“Dr. Hotz provides inspiration for teachers across the region. He has taken PLT activities to a higher level, deeply incorporating the program into not only his classroom, but across all disciplines in the curriculum and into programs such as the KCK Saturday Academy and the Kansas Green Schools.”

– Cynthia Annett, Research Associate Professor, Kansas State University

Michael was named National PLT Outstanding Educator Honoree in 2015.

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