# Lexington opens applications for Teachers' Environmental Academy program  
**Published:** 2026-04-21T14:52:23.000Z  
**Source:** [LFUCG General News](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/teachers-environmental-academy-applications-now-open-0)  
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**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/lexington-opens-applications-for-teachers-environmental-academy-program

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The City of Lexington is accepting applications for its seventh year of the [Teachers' Environmental Academy](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/teachers-environmental-academy-applications-now-open), a week-long professional development program designed to equip educators with knowledge about local environmental challenges they can bring directly into their classrooms.

The workshop series runs June 8-12 and welcomes kindergarten through 12th-grade educators from public and private schools throughout Lexington-Fayette County, as well as instructors working with homeschool cooperatives. The program focuses on practical environmental issues including [multi-modal transportation, sustainability, waste management and water quality](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/environmental-quality-public-works/live-green-lexington/environmental-education).

Teachers who complete all five days of the academy receive a $500 stipend or have substitute teacher costs reimbursed. The city also provides breakfast and lunch each day. Participants will tour city facilities including the Lexington Recycle Center and the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant, giving them firsthand experience with Lexington's environmental operations.

"The Teachers' Environmental Academy was one of the best professional development experiences of my 30+ years in education," said Greg Gunn, a math teacher at Southern Middle School. "For anyone interested in the environment and learning how public and private organizations are working to protect our region, this is an outstanding summer opportunity."

The program is run by the [Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/environmental-quality-public-works/environmental-services/live-green-lexington/environmental-education/environmental-education-resources-schools), which has been providing environmental education to county schools since 2008. Teachers who complete the academy receive resources designed to help them integrate what they learned into classroom lessons, engaging students in their local community.

Applications are open through Friday, May 15.

## Sources

- [LFUCG General News](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/teachers-environmental-academy-applications-now-open-0)
- [Official announcement from City of Lexington LFUCG](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/teachers-environmental-academy-applications-now-open)
- [Environmental Quality and Public Works education programs](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/environmental-quality-public-works/live-green-lexington/environmental-education)
- [Environmental education resources for schools](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/environmental-quality-public-works/environmental-services/live-green-lexington/environmental-education/environmental-education-resources-schools)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from LFUCG General News, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/teachers-environmental-academy-applications-now-open-0.