GREEN OUR PLANET: GROW Together

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.

In this episode of GREEN OUR PLANET: GROW Together, host Ciara Byrne sits down with Ian Smith, Director for High School Instruction at Community Unit School District 200 in Illinois. Ian oversees academics across Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South, and he’s helped build some of the most practical, student-centered systems for engagement: real career pathways, real work-based learning, and a standout Introduction to Teaching program that gives students clinical classroom experience before they ever graduate.Ian shares how his own journey into education was shaped by watching his father-in-law change students’ lives—and how that same “full circle” story now shows up in the programs he built for students. If you’re trying to make high school feel meaningful again, expand opportunity beyond the already advantaged, and scale hands-on learning without overwhelming staff, this conversation is packed with real steps and lessons learned.Key Moments04:01 "Mentorship's Transformative Impact"09:03 "Growing Diverse Future Teachers"12:01 Inspiring Future Generations16:11 Determined, Goal-Oriented College Approach17:17 Overcoming Scheduling Challenges21:33 "Student Internships in Various Fields"25:01 "Team Effort for Student Internships"29:48 Building High School Manufacturing ProgramWhy You Will Love This EpisodeA practical, hopeful blueprint for rebuilding high school relevance—showing how career assessments, four-year pathways, dual credit, internships, and a grow-your-own teacher pipeline can increase engagement, improve equity, and give students real clarity before they ever step onto a college campus.Connect with Ian Smith | Director for High School Instruction, Community Unit School District 200Company Website: https://www.cusd200.org/ 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.

In this episode of GREEN OUR PLANET: GROW Together, host Ciara Byrne, Co-Founder and CEO of Green Our Planet, sits down with Jennifer Mazza, Director of STEM and Instructional Technology at Clarkstown Central School District in Rockland County, New York. Jennifer shares how she’s helping classrooms stay deeply human while embracing emerging technology, using a model she calls Community Connected Learning.Jennifer walks through a powerful senior externship pilot that prepares students to use AI responsibly and then places them with mentor organizations across the community, from local government to schools and nonprofits. She explains what made the pilot work, what didn’t, and why clear expectations and real projects are essential for student placements. The conversation also explores Clarkstown’s sustainability partnerships, including visits to a local community farm, hydroponics in elementary classrooms, and using digital storytelling tools like Canva and WeVideo to help students share real-world learning beyond the classroom.From design thinking in humanities classes to district-wide frameworks for AI literacy, Jennifer makes the case for intentional tech integration that expands student voice, strengthens community relationships, and supports teachers without adding overload.Key Moments04:15 AI Training Expands for Students07:17 "Effective Placement Preparation Insights"10:51 Integrating Farms and Digital Learning13:18 "The Importance of Classroom Connection"17:14 "Evolving Education: Skills for Tomorrow"22:14 AI Enhancing Learning Engagement26:05 Empowering Teachers Through Community Growth29:58 Balancing Technology, Safety, and Education31:54 Preparing Students for AI Future36:39 "Integrated, Vision-Driven Education Strategies"37:51 "Focused Goals for Meaningful Education"Why You Will Love This EpisodeA practical, inspiring conversation on how districts can build future-ready learning that blends AI literacy, sustainability, and authentic community partnerships without losing the human core of education. Perfect for educators, school leaders, and community partners who want learning to feel real, relevant, and meaningful.Connect with Jennifer Mazza | Director of STEM and Instructional Technology, Clarkstown Central School DistrictLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-mazza-8033a979Company Website: https://www.ccsd.edu/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.