Travis Duckworth

Duckworth’s innovative teaching idea, “EPA Sustainability Initiative,” offers a model of cross-disciplinary curriculum that teaches principles of sustainability that are hands-on and application based in partnership with the entire school and numerous community members and city officials. The first phase of a series of projects will highlight the ways in which curriculum is connected in future phases. A 13,000 square foot community garden that provides food for the homeless and meditative green space has already been created. This garden is built on contour and directs 500,000 gallons of water to food systems. Math students will plot concentric circles, calculate volume of mulch and perform marketing analyses. Science classes will learn decomposition through compost, water and nutrient cycles, Archimede's principle and the importance of dynamic ecosystems. History students will trace cosmology and religion through civilizations, and in English, the mythology of the Minotaur will be discussed while art students beautify the grounds. Ultimately, Duckworth hopes all students see the inter-connected nature of their world.