Teachers Share New Ideas for a New School Year

While the school year is just starting, learning never stopped this summer! Hundreds of dedicated educators joined the Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools for professional learning programs, including the Northeast Farm to School Institute, Foundations in Education for Sustainability, and Cultivating Joy and Wonder for early childhood educators.

We asked educators what they learned in these programs, and what they’re looking forward to bringing to their schools in the year ahead, as they educate for sustainability. Here are a few of their responses.

Teachers, you inspire us all!

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“It really actually just completely shifted the way that I’m thinking about my pedagogy in general. Now I’m very excited to continue diving deeper into Education for Sustainability.”

Dawn Irwin, Co-Founder and Owner/Director, Growing With Wonder, Essex, Vermont
Foundations in Education for Sustainability

 

“While I was here, I realized that I’ve really only been thinking about the ecological aspect of sustainability. The whole week had opportunities for me to grow as a teacher and as a person, but the thing I really can’t wait to do is to work on the group games that we did. I already purchased the book we used, The Systems Thinking Playbook. I can see myself implementing them immediately, day one.”

Shakira Provasoli, K-5 Environmental Science Teacher, New York, New York
Foundations in Education for Sustainability

 

 

“Tackling issues with sustainability seemed challenging. This program makes me so aware of how people work so hard for a humane existence. I'm taking away the creative ways these issues are presented to children.”

Timothy Branson, Art Teacher, School for Community Learning, Indianapolis, Indiana
Cultivating Joy and Wonder

 

 

“I plan to create an outdoor ed committee to help plan and develop more school-wide and community activities for both the garden and forest…[like to take] our annual garden planting and harvesting days and build in opportunities for a garden and sustainable creation market!”

Jennifer Mohr, Grade 1 Spanish Immersion Teacher, Wayland Public Schools, Massachusetts
Cultivating Joy and Wonder

 

 

“I loved learning how to get students connected by talking about food memories. I will be using it in my class, to kick start our year and team building!”

Molly Magnan (center), Science Teacher, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, Vermont
Northeast Farm to School Institute

Read more about food memories, and how Farm to Early Childhood can build a lifelong positive relationship with food.

 

 

“During the Four Sisters Garden workshop, learning about how to connect cross-curricular topics with the Farm to School program was very useful. I love how we got materials and were given instructions to take home with them. It gave me ideas to use for history, science, and math!”

Meghan Ehle, Literacy Interventionist Grades 3-5, Alburgh Community Education Center, Vermont
Northeast Farm to School Institute

The Four Sisters Garden, planted by Judy Dow and Leah Summerfield of Gedakina, is open for the public to explore in our Children’s Farmyard.

 

 

“[I gained] a greater understanding of the impact Farm to School can have on students, a school, and the local economy. The retreat influenced me by making my commitment to the work stronger along with my desire to fully support our food staff and Farm to School Coordinators to be successful.” 

Steven Lindemann, Principal, Rivendell Interstate School District, New Hampshire/Vermont
Northeast Farm to School Institute

 

Thank you to these and many other educators for sharing their reflections with us, and thank you to our partners: Foundations in EFS is offered in partnership with the University of Vermont; The Northeast Farm to School Institute is presented by Vermont FEED – a project of NOFA-VT and Shelburne Farms – and the Northeast Farm to School Collaborative.

Photos by Andy Duback and Sarah Webb. Video by Andrea Estey.

See all professional learning programs.