Teaching teachers about the environment

National Grid and Molloy College of Rockville Centre have embarked on a unique program that company executives and educators say is aimed at one of Long Island's most dire needs: increasing the number of young people who study environmental engineering and science.

The company and the college said last week that about 30 high school teachers from a variety of Long Island school districts took a one-week course at Molloy's Sustainability Institute in East Farmingdale under a $35,000 grant from National Grid. The grant pays for the course, which focused on climate change, water and land preservation and the importance of recycling.

The teachers are to enlighten their students about the environment and, hopefully, influence young people about environmental engineering careers, said Bob Keller, president of the National Grid Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm.

"We would love to see the kids become architects who understand the principals of green architecture," said Keller.

Lou Cino, dean of Molloy's Division of Continuing Education, said the classes held the week of July 11 included a visit to Hempstead Town's recycling facility.

Theresa Gordon and Lacheall Williams, both Uniondale high school teachers who took the course, said they would be able to bring it home to students this fall.

The environment is "a booming occupation for them," said Gordon.

"I had some knowledge of going green, but the [course] opened doors as to how we would approach our students," said Williams.

Molloy and National Grid are considering continuing the program next summer.