Marie Hartford, a fifth-grade teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School in Redmond has been selected as a 2011 Earth Hero at School.

The Earth Heroes at School Program celebrates King County students, teachers, staff, and volunteers who implement projects at their school or beyond to protect the environment. Hartford received a formal letter of congratulations from King County Executive Dow Constantine informing her of her selection. She has also been invited to a recognition ceremony on April 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center at Mercer View on Mercer Island.

Hartford was nominated for this award by John Schmeid and Aaron Feik who she works with on an environmental project called Brightwater (offering environmental education), as well as by Megan Spaulding, the principal at Horace Mann.