Like most school districts across the country, the Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) leaves a large environmental footprint in the community. That's why about eight years ago, the VBCPS began to look at how the district could transition toward a more sustainable model. The objective was simple: Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Three goals are moving VBCPS toward that objective: (1) to build environmentally sustainable schools; (2) to integrate environmentally sustainable practices throughout the school district; and (3) to educate the public about environmental sustainability. A school district can build more sustainable buildings and can integrate environmental practices throughout the various departments; however, for these programs to be successful in raising awareness and changing habits on a large scale, school principals are the key to success. Some principals embrace the issue of environmental sustainability and make it part of their school's culture, while others take a hands-off approach. Teachers and principals are asked every year to do more with less. If environmental initiatives are presented as additional work, then the task ahead will be a difficult one. In this article, the author describes activities that are being used at schools throughout Virginia Beach to raise awareness about environmental sustainability. (Contains 3 online resources.)