Rhonda Greiff, Jennifer Anderson, Kyle Alveshere, Cara Perszyk, Nathan Decker, and Stephanie Johnson

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “Experiential Learning Garden,” is designed to allow experiential learning through a universally accessible community garden. With the Voya grant funds, the team of educators will be able to secure a designated area on campus to build their garden to teach state standards in math, science, social studies, health, vocational training, fine/gross motor skills, and social/emotional learning. They believe the community gardening experience will provide their students with the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the school by working together to achieve shared goals and provide hands-on learning in all academic areas. It is also designed to support the nutrition education of the demographics in our school which are at high risk for nutrition related health disparities. Students of all races and abilities will develop the skills to contribute to their community while in high school and after.

According to the team, in the end, the garden will be an outdoor classroom, where students with all abilities will collaborate through hands-on learning.