Gardens, Grit, and Growth: The Secret to Schoolwide Engagement

In this episode of GREEN OUR PLANET: GROW Together, host Ciara Byrne welcomes Dr. Gordon Amerson, Superintendent of Schools at Val Verde Unified in Riverside County, California. Dr. Amerson shares how Val Verde is tackling teacher burnout and student disengagement by making learning feel alive again, through a district wide commitment to gardens, hydroponics, agriculture pathways, and student centered experiences that nourish both bodies and brains.Ciara and Dr. Amerson dig into how Val Verde scaled to 22 school gardens, 100+ hydroponic towers, a vineyard, and a $2.5M agriculture complex, plus a new $40M central kitchen built to support the district’s long-term goal of 100% scratch cooking. Along the way, Dr. Amerson explains how strengths-based leadership (Gallup CliftonStrengths) helps build culture, boost morale, and align people to work they’re naturally energized to do, making big initiatives sustainable.Key Moments06:05 "Embracing Strengths for Growth"07:12 "Building a Strengths-Based Culture"13:08 "Community-Driven Education Transformation"14:34 Cultivating Passion for Agriculture17:32 Strategic Planning for Sustainable Funding23:13 "Advancing Scratch Cooking Mission"26:03 Community, Family, and Education29:07 Addressing Education Challenges and Growth32:50 "Commit for the Right Reasons"Why You Will Love This EpisodeA practical, inspiring roadmap for district leaders who want to boost engagement without adding noise—showing how gardens, agriculture pathways, strong community trust, and scratch cooking can become a scalable strategy for culture, learning, and student wellness.Connect with Dr. Gordon Amerson | Superintendent of Schools, Val Verde UnifiedLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonamerson Company Website: https://www.valverde.edu/en-US Follow UsGREEN OUR PLANET: GROW TogetherHost: Ciara ByrneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciara-byrne-3548619 Website: https://www.greenourplanet.org/LinkedIn: https://ch.linkedin.com/company/green-our-planetAbout GREEN OUR PLANET: GROW TogetherGREEN OUR PLANET: GROW Together is the podcast where education, sustainability, and innovation meet. Hosted by Green Our Planet CEO Ciara Byrne, each episode spotlights educators, leaders, and partners who are creating hands-on learning experiences that connect students to the planet, build real-world skills, and inspire action in schools and communities.