Bright Ideas

 

Compass Rose Public Schools, a public charter school network in Texas, recently hired a nature-based learning teacher for its newest campus in San Antonio. Each of the Compass Rose schools has a specialized field of study. The field of study at Compass Rose Journey is Public Health and their focus is on preventative health care. Because one of the biggest public health crises affecting all of us is climate change, school leaders decided the campus needed to be an environment that supports a relationship with nature - for both students and staff. 

 

“Spending time in nature will ensure our students are healthier, happier, and smarter. We are excited about the outdoor learning environments we will have at our school. These areas will allow our students to learn with nature in a restorative and nurturing environment,” Myeisha Haywood, elementary school principal stated. The campus has a school garden and outdoor classroom and will soon have a restorative sensory garden, outdoor art area, rain garden, and mud kitchen. 

 

The nature-based teacher, Kathlene Sheets, will bring engaging and relevant programming to the outdoor learning environments. “I am excited to have more spaces to teach as our outdoor learning environments expand. I am grateful for the opportunity to handpick curriculum pieces with aspects that are not emphasized in many public schools: social emotional learning combined with art and nature-led learning, environmental education that centers people’s relationship to our Earth, all of which will be guided by inclusive and equitable practices. I hope I can chip away at the missing pieces in education by creating spaces that remind kids their emotional and artistic needs are valued and show them how nature, conversation, and creativity can help them heal.” This position, the first of its kind in the area, will not only allow the field of study to be woven into each school day, but also show students that careers focused on nature are present in their community.