Hi Chris, thanks for making some time to speak. To start off, would you tell me a little about your journey into CEA growing?

Absolutely. I’ve been teaching middle and high school for twenty years, but about ten years ago, I got a bug to bring my physics and engineering background into the classroom in a more engaging way. I realized that the easiest way to do this while really engaging students was to work with plants. I built a simple DIY hydroponics setup in the back of the classroom, then guided my students as they applied engineering to improve the operation. You know, how can we reduce the footprint? How can we automate this? How can we increase production?

This started out as a very small vertical hydroponic farm, and part of what made it so engaging was that we were growing real food out of practically nothing. The kids would take some home to their parents, the faculty would take some. It was a common space that brought people together, and we really wanted to scale it up so that even more kids could get involved.

So the district invested in a space in the High School. They demoed a classroom, rewired it, and rebuilt it from scratch to be a dedicated AgTech research space. We run engineering classes, pull in research students, and now we’re actually producing enough food to donate to the community.

Why were you drawn to AgTech specifically as an avenue for teaching?

I think it came from my experience helping my Grandfather in traditional farming while I was growing up. Out there with him and the plants, I remember having a sense of playing and learning at the same time. By building an actual farm in the classroom, we’re not just administering a short-term object lesson, we’re creating a real experience.

So even though you had these fond memories, you were also really learning how to grow plants hydroponically alongside your students. Is that right?

Yes, absolutely. And I think that’s a really good model for kids to see anyways. It’s good to see that a teacher isn’t just a type of person who has all the answers. Sometimes in order to learn you need to go on a journey together. So I never felt compelled to get it perfect. On a given day, it’s just as likely that my students will teach me something.