I have been in education for 28 years. Initially, I taught full time followed by a period of part-time employment and volunteering in schools while my boys were young. Most recently, I am back full time as the agriscience teacher at Suisun Valley K-8 School.  

 

Suisun Valley was the first specialized K-8 in the Fairfield Suisun School District. Working with the Parent Club, a garden was created. In the beginning, each teacher had a plot for which they were responsible. The staff worked with a retired teacher from our site who consulted, developed lessons, and helped support teachers and their classes. Last year, the FSUSD modified their support staff for the K-8 schools. Each school was able to hire a release teacher who supported the focus of that particular school. Now, each class spends a minimum of one 64-minute session a week in agriscience. My focus with the kids is farm to fork. We manage the 2-acre garden, plan and plant crops, maintain the space, use the harvest for cooking and nutrition all the while working on exploring science concepts as guided but the Next Generation Science Standards.

 

Up until the point that FSUSD established the themed positions at each K-8, I had been working between Suisun Valley and David Weir as a Teacher of Academic Support providing small group instruction and support in language arts for grades K-8. I loved working with the span of grade levels additionally, I have always loved being outside in my home garden. Having the opportunity to work with students of all grade levels and be outside in the garden was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. 

 

Having been an active part of the Suisun Valley 4H for many years, as well as having helped my three boys develop a love of working in the soil, the agriscience position was a natural extension of what I had already been doing. I share the responsibility for planning, building, maintaining, and managing the garden with the 550 students in my classes. Students have to buy in because they are given many choices and see a direct impact from the work and engagement. For some, it is an aspect of education where they find great success and rise as leaders. For others, it is the first time they have truly found success or challenges at school. Learning by doing (a motto borrowed from 4H) is the way I try to approach all aspects of my planning for the classes. 

 

I believe many students will maintain their love of being outside and working in the soil. Most will have expanded their willingness to try new foods and will have an understanding of the origins of the food we eat. Perhaps most importantly, students will know what its like to feel success and failures associated with agriculture and will know how to reflect on those successes and failures and learn from them.

 

Because I work with kids ranging in age from five to fourteen, my instruction ranges as well. I am guided by Next Generation Science Standards, nature, and the shared pathway we develop while planning for the garden.

 

I have learned to slow down, to appreciate the large and small aspects of the garden, and I have learned to admire each individual student's approach to their experience in our amazing garden space. Finally, I have learned not all agriculture is successful and we can learn valuable lessons from both the success and our failures!

 

I love the idea that our community has a resource of knowledge so readily available. Due to the school closures and restrictions, this year will not be great, but in the future, I would love to invite guests to visit and present in many aspects of agriculture. One area for next year would be grafting techniques and the variety of methods for plant propagation. I am also always in search of plants for our guild section which is home to many beautiful perennials planted on coordination with each other. 

 

My favorite flowering plant is a hydrangea. However, in recent years, I have transitioned my own yard to primarily succulents and have a LOVE for all of them as well.