Mary Ann Boyer of Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants Receives 2025 PAISBOA Service to the Flock Award

May 7, 2025 - PAISBOA's Service to the Flock Award, instituted in 2021, recognizes a member or contributor who has demonstrated excellence in their service to the PAISBOA flock. Through their exemplary professionalism and achievements, they have supported their colleagues while advancing the mission and goals of PAISBOA.

Mary Ann Boyer, co-founder of Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants and a longtime collaborator who has been powering the PAISBOA Sustainability Group since its founding in 2015, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Service to the Flock Award. She is pictured receiving the award with Ron Hill, left, PAISBOA Operations Manager and co-chair of the Sustainability Group, and Rob Marcantuono, PAISBOA Board Chair.

The PAISBOA Sustainability Group is a fantastic way for educators and administrators who care deeply about the environment to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. The meetings highlight real-world sustainability practices, and provide inspiration and practical ideas — from integrating sustainability into the curriculum to offering hands-on learning experiences like school gardens, pollinator habitats, composting programs, and outdoor education trips.

Originally known as the PAISBOA Sustainability Committee, the group was founded by former Associate Director Al Greenough and staff member Colleen Atwood. They initiated the Sustainability Steering Committee with Judy Asselin, a former teacher and Sustainability Director at Westtown School.

That was the same year that Mary Ann started Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants along with Anne Sudduth. “We had heard about the Affinity Group of teachers who met to discuss environmental initiatives, said Mary Ann. “And with Judy’s help, I connected with Al and Colleen, who invited me to join the Steering Committee.”

At their first meeting, Mary Ann offered to contribute blog articles for PAISBOA’s Friday Flyer, featuring schools within the PAISBOA network that were leading in sustainability efforts. “I was interested in learning what green initiatives schools were doing” she said. “My first article highlighted The Hill School in Pottstown, focusing on their community garden, hydration stations, and food waste management practices.”

When Al retired in 2018, staffer Ron Hill took over the reins and has worked with Mary Ann to continue moving the program forward. To date, PAISBOA has sponsored over 25 school-based Sustainability Group meetings. “Our ‘secret sauce’ is that we hold meetings 2 - 3 times within the academic year,” she said. “Ron and I work closely by drafting an agenda that will showcase the host school’s green initiatives.”

Participants tour the campus, check out the green features, and enjoy a “low waste, plant based” dinner during which folks can network. Meetings are always free to all PAISBOA members, and anyone with an interest in sustainability is invited.

Mary Ann did not start out looking at a career in the environmental field. “I was an English major in college and leaned toward the humanities — environmentally focused courses weren’t really offered at the time,” she said.

“Then one weekend, I attended a college football game and met a couple who had both studied environmental science. She had also been an English major, and he worked in a similar field to mine before graduate school. I hadn’t realized it was possible to pivot into the environmental field this way. It was a lightbulb moment — I had always loved nature and cared deeply about the environment, but I hadn’t known how to turn that passion into a career.”

Following an internship in Boston, Mary Ann moved to Philadelphia, where she spent eight years with the EPA. She then made another shift, this time into teaching science. “I taught at the Schuylkill Center, then Germantown Friends School, and finally Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH),” she said.

In 2014, she left teaching, teamed up with Anne Sudduth, and launched Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants in January 2015.

Boyer Sudduth’s first client was SCH, and from there, the work expanded. They’ve helped schools earn third-party sustainability certifications through programs like the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools, the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, and the Green Restaurant Association.

“Mary Ann was a teacher at Springside School and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy for 13 years and was instrumental in our environmental projects,” said Frank Aloise, CFO at Springside Chestnut Hill. “We worked together on many issues from being the first school to have single stream recycling to training 4th grade girls to be ‘Waste Watchers’ and help the whole school recycle more. Even after Mary Ann left the school she remained a good friend to SCH, and we continued to work together on projects. Her passion for the environment and helping students learn was contagious, and our school – and many others – were so much better for her work in this space.”

PAISBOA has played a pivotal role in shaping Mary Ann’s career. “Through our collaboration on environmental initiatives, we’ve built a strong network of passionate educators and staff who are leading meaningful sustainability efforts at their schools,” she said. “Many of these individuals don’t always get recognized for their work, so the Sustainability Group has provided a valuable space for them to connect, share ideas, and feel supported by a like-minded community.”

In 2016, PAISBOA introduced an environmental grant program, and Boyer Sudduth partnered with Norwood-Fontbonne Academy to write a successful proposal for the Collaborative Waste Initiative. This project brought together NFA, Chestnut Hill College, the Morris Arboretum, and NFA’s Parents Association to address waste reduction and sustainability.

The grant strengthened relationships among these three anchor institutions in Northwest Philadelphia, all of which share a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. As part of the project, NFA conducted a comprehensive waste audit and developed a range of initiatives to become a greener school. Students, staff, and parents were actively involved, making it a true community effort — all made possible through PAISBOA’s support.

Outside of PAISBOA, and the office, Mary Ann loves biking with her husband, Chris Hall, and they enjoy hiking with their three adult children and their spouses/partners. She also plays the piano and tries to practice every day. “My background is in classical piano, but lately I’ve been branching out and exploring jazz,” she said. Art has always been important; her mother, Nancy, was an artist, and that creative influence has stayed with her.

Ellen Kruger is a science teacher at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and a dedicated member of the Sustainability Group. “My school has hosted two meetings over the past several years,” she said. “And I have seen firsthand the huge amount of behind-the-scenes work that Mary Ann puts into each meeting.

“She excels at managing both the small minutiae and big-picture vision of these meetings, and always takes time to introduce people to each other if she sees a helpful connection. As a busy teacher it's not always easy to commit to an evening event, but I really look forward to the meetings, due in large part to Mary Ann's unwavering commitment to helping PAISBOA schools become as sustainable as possible. The fact that dozens of other teachers feel the same and group attendance is always stellar speaks volumes.”

Mary Ann is always looking to recognize “sustainability champions” who many times are a ‘lone wolf’ at their school. “Our schools need good success stories to tell,” she said. “And as a self-proclaimed environmental nerd, I love getting involved in anything related to sustainability — whether it's community tree planting events, composting, or encouraging others to adopt greener habits. It makes me happy!”

“I can't think of a better recipient for this award,” said Ellen Kruger of SCH. We wholeheartedly agree!