Tara Happy, an Environmental Science teacher at Hollis Primary School, was one of eight teachers nationwide to receive the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Courtesy photo/Hollis School District

HOLLIS – Tara Happy, an Environmental Science teacher at Hollis Primary School, recently received the coveted Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for her work in spearheading a food waste prevention program.

Happy was one of eight teachers nationwide to be chosen for this award. She is also the only teacher in New Hampshire to win the award since records started being kept in 2011.

EPA officials said Happy carries a salamander identification key and a magnifying glass whenever she takes her students exploring outside.

“Mrs. Happy tailors each lesson based on the interests of her students, which fosters curiosity and promotes active engagement,” they said, adding that she has had a composting program in her classroom since 2018. “She has established herself as a respected leader in her school and the broader community.”

Supported by a grant from the World Wildlife Fund, the program at Hollis Primary augments the WWF’s Food Waste Warriors program, which the federation launched in the spring of 2019.

When the Hollis Primary program was launched in 2022, students prevented more than 10,000 pounds of food from being thrown into landfills. Rather, that food was used for composting, anaerobic digestion and donations. During the 2023-2024 school year, the program was expanded to include guinea pig rescues and smoothie days.

“It’s amazing to see 100 six-year-olds sorting out the remnants of their lunches into the correct containers, they understand that food is not trash,” Happy said in an interview with the WWF. “They empty and recycle their milk containers, collect unopened food to share and sort out their ‘trash-trash’ from any leftover food. It’s all supervised by a few eight-year-olds wearing blue vests and carrying clipboards. It’s simple yet incredibly amazing.”

Despite still being in elementary school, the 377 students at Hollis Primary fully understand what it means to live “sustainably and responsibly.”

“They truly grasp the idea that small actions, like composting a banana peel or sharing an unopened applesauce cup, add up and make a difference,” said Happy.

In addition to receiving the Presidential Innovation Award, Happy was also recognized as Environmental Educator of the Year in May 2022 by the New Hampshire Environmental Educators.