From the Executive

From the Executive Director

Advocacy Results in Positive Testing and Educator Evaluation Reform

Educators across Georgia celebrated the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 364 in the Senate and House this legislative session, which ended March 24. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta), provides important relief on testing and educator evaluation requirements, including reducing the percentage of student growth measures on evaluations from 50 to 30 percent for teachers and 70 to 40 percent for leaders. Further, student measures will not be utilized for evaluations unless students are in attendance for 90 percent of a teacher’s course. The bill also reduces the number of required tests from 32 to 24 during a student’s K-12 academic experience.

These hard-fought reforms came about through grassroots advocacy by educators, parents and the face-to-face initiative of legislative affairs staff on behalf of PAGE members and other education associations. I commend PAGE legislative affairs staff members Margaret Ciccarelli and Josh Stephens — your representatives at the Capitol — for their leadership and daily efforts with legislators. Unless you have experienced the daily grind of tracking legislation, keeping up with ever-changing committee hearing times and locations, and schedules that don’t follow a traditional work day, it’s hard to truly appreciate what being an advocate at the Capitol is really like. Margaret’s and Josh’s “Report from the Capitol” emails throughout the session kept our members informed and engaged, and you were engaged. Legislators reported to us that your calls, emails and direct communication at home made a difference. PAGE thanks you for your effort, and I also ask that you reach out and thank your legislators for supporting public educators in Georgia. I encourage you to read Josh’s report about this session on Page 12 of this issue.

PAGE REMAINS COMMITTED

PAGE commits time and resources to the professional development of teachers and leaders through several initiatives. The capacity-building activities range from leadership networks for assistant principals and principals, to regional professional learning groups in south Georgia and the High School Redesign Initiative in several districts across the state. PAGE commissioned a universityled, research-based study of the effect of professional learning work on the outcomes for students, teachers and schools. The effort, called the Impact Study, validated the importance of engaging in well-designed, collaborative professional learning that is sustained over time. I encourage you to read the introduction executive summary and report by going to pageinc.org and looking for the link to the study.

I am proud of the work PAGE does to increase the capacity of Georgia’s teachers and leaders to continuously improve the Dr. Allene Magill

quality of work provided to students so that they can experience profound learning.

GROWTH CONTINUES

PAGE continues to grow this year thanks to the continued support of current members and their positive referrals, as well as the excellent services PAGE provides through our membership services representatives, advocacy, legal and professional learning support. Typically, membership levels off after the beginning of the school year. However, PAGE membership continues to grow through the active professional recruitment within schools and student recruitment at college and high school events.

Our membership growth demonstrates the value of our organization to the majority of educators in Georgia and our connection with people at all levels of public education in every sector of our state.

Thank you for helping us become a stronger and more vital partner for you and for public education.

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

The myth of the traditional summer break for educators lives on despite what we know about what teachers and leaders must do between school years just to keep up with changes in standards, content and school expectations. My wish for you this summer is that you will find time to relax, reconnect with cherished friends and family, and learn new things that will help you experience success in the next school year. n

Farm to School

More than 1,600 schools in Georgia are working with local food producers to feed students’ bodies and minds

By Christine Van Dusen

Students would scrunch up their faces at the thought of collard greens, pushing away their trays. Never mind eating local or combatting childhood obesity — pass the french fries.

So Burke County Public Schools, via its Farm to School program, worked with local farmer Pete Jackson to come up with an elegant solution: cultivating a collard green that was less bitter in taste. Suddenly, the collard greens were no longer vilified in the cafeteria and greens consumption nearly doubled in the 4,400-student district in Waynesboro.

Oh, and a few days each week, instead of fries, the district serves roasted red ranch potatoes purchased from a local grower. “Students like these potatoes better than the fries,” says Brianna Dumas, the Early Head Start, Wellness and Farm to School Dietitian with Burke County Public Schools.

This is just an example of how the Farm to School program is changing the way students eat and think about healthy food. The decades-old national program, which started with just a few schools, now connects more than 42,000 schools with local food producers.

“Farm to School is a win for kids, a win for farmers and a win for communities,” says Stacey Malstrom, communications director for the National Farm to School Network, which reported a 430 percent increase in the number of programs nationwide between 2006 and 2012.

The program is growing in Georgia, too; after all, agribusiness is the state’s largest industry. More than 1,600 schools and 93 districts in Georgia are working with local food producers to integrate agriculture into the curriculum in ways large and small, expected and unexpected, inside and outside of the classroom. From tiny raisedbed gardens and cafeteria salad bars, to

Burke

adventurous taste tests, advanced aquaponics, farming-related math problems and traveling greenhouses, educators are using fresh food to feed students’ bodies and minds.

“The beauty of Farm to School is that there is no one way to do it; you’ll see variations in each district,” Dumas says. “Farm to School can mean serving it in your lunches, having school gardens, bringing local farmers into a classroom or even just promoting what agriculture means to Georgia.”

The need for these programs is crucial, educators and health experts say. Georgia ranks 17th for obese children ages 10 through high school age, according to the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. However, as students learn to appreciate the healthy fruits and vegetables they may not see at home, they learn better eating habits, which can help curb the growing obesity problem in Georgia, reports the Georgia Department of Education.

Studies show that Farm to School programs not only improve childhood eating behaviors, but also T ift County Schools ripped the roof off an old school bus and turned it into a rolling classroom, to bid. It wasn’t long before I was reaching out to farmers. The Farm to School idea was new to both increase knowledge about garden- farm and greenhouse. ‘Our parties, but that did not stop us ing and agriculture, open minds motto is ‘dirt to plate.’’ from jumping straight in.” about new and healthier foods, and enhance overall academic achievement. In addition, the programs can motivate more families to sign their children up for school meals pro— Craig Matthews, Coordinator of the Tift County Schools Career, Technology and Agriculture Education program In its first program year, the district served local mini cherry tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli and more. “There is not much better than eating a piece of produce grams, which brings more revenue that was harvested that very mornto school districts while improving ing,” Dumas says. “We knew we food service staff morale by placing were on to something, right off the a greater premium on the good work they percent increase over the 2011-12 school bat. Word spread like wildfire, and before can do. year. Georgia schools, meanwhile, have we knew it, calls from farmers across the

Another benefit? More students get grown their investment in local food to state were coming in.” inspired to become farmers themselves, about $40 million, according to Georgia By 2015, the district was putting $50,000 and local growers — part of an industry Organics. back into the economy by paying local that contributes more than $74 billion Here, we take a look at a few districts farmers. to the state’s economy every year — get that are active in Farm to School and share Now, the Burke County school system more dollars. their experiences — experiences that can integrates local produce into its school

“The average age of farmers in our help guide other educators who want to lunch menu at least three times a week. country is near retirement, and there are successfully develop, launch and expand It also hosts a bi-monthly farmers lots of concerns that our farmers will similar programs. die off and not be replaced,” says Emily Cumbie-Drake, the Farm to School direc- Burke County Schools 1 tor for Georgia Organics. “Programs like When Burke County Public Schools puts Farm to School can build interest and show a new vegetable on its menus, local grocery that there are opportunities for young peo- stores get a heads-up and they know what ple to go into farming. We want students to do: stock up on that veggie, and fast. to understand that farming isn’t just about “Stores otherwise were selling out of mono-cropping cotton in south Georgia. It the same products when kids asked for it can be urban farming in metro Atlanta on at home,” Malstrom says. “Kids are asking two acres of land. It’s a potential livelihood their families to make healthier choices.” for students, and the fact that they have The district started small, in 2014, the opportunity to develop those skills and with School Nutrition Director Donna S. interests as part of their K-12 experience is Martin dabbling in Farm to School a really positive thing.” by purchasing a few items for the 2

Nationwide, schools invested $789 mil- cafeterias. “It was her hope to grow lion in their communities by buying food the program, and when I came on from local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and other producers during the 2013-14 year, according to the USDA. That’s a 105 board in July of 2014, I wanted to do just the same,” Dumas says. “I began first with the logistical things: policy and procedure, researching other programs in the U.S., marketing, learning how The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

3

1. Burke County farmer Pete Jackson (center) cultivated a less-bitter collard green that is a hit with local school kids. He is flanked by Nutrition Director Donna Martin (left) and Dietitian Brianna Dumas. 2. Burke’s Farm to School program achieved recognition of the highest order in April when First Lady Michelle Obama — America’s gardener in chief — visited Burke County MS as the first stop on her American Garden Tour. 3. (l-r) Rep. Rick Allen, Donna Martin, Brianna Dumas, State Superintendent Richard Woods, Burke Superintendent Rudy Falana and Blakeney ES Principal Dr. Earl Ishmal at the Feed My School kickoff event.

market at the high school, caters events, promotes ‘To ensure success, we strongly advise folks who want to start or grow their Farm to School Vanessa Hayes — the Georgia School Nutrition Farm to School activities efforts to build a diverse team Association president — to via social media and advo- of stakeholders. When people apply for a USDA Farm to cates for the program in understand how Farm to School School Grant for fiscal year Washington, D.C. Moreover, students have participated in scores of food-related can enhance their goals, things start clicking for the whole school 2015. The district won the grant, and in doing so was activities, including a “Salad community.’ able to establish raised-bed Showdown,” and they are — Stacey Malstrom, Communications Director gardens at nine of its 14 writing a cookbook incor- for the National Farm to School Network schools, which are used as a porating foods they harvest tool to teach other lessons in at school. And this year the the curriculum. district added gardens that “We teach them about incorporate science, technology, engineer- Al Roker was also on hand. soils and the basics of fertilizers,” ing and math (STEM) learning. “I’m proud of the work you’re doing,” Matthews says. “Teachers are bringing it

“Academics isn’t just math and science Obama told the sixth-graders, who joined into the curriculum. Elementary students alone; farming is a science,” says Chip her in planting cucumbers and peppers. learn that they have a four-foot-by-fourBridges, state program manager of agricul- foot garden and need to figure out how ture education for the Georgia Department Tift County Schools many plants can go in and how many of Education. For instance, when students Ripping the roof off of a school bus rows they can make. They’re learning learn to grow tomatoes, they also analyze might seem a needlessly destructive thing math skills.” weather forecasts, research healthy fertiliz- to do, but when Tift County Schools edu- The grant money was also used to irriers and study how plants use photosynthe- cators did it, they had a plan: turn the bus gate the school farm and to renovate the sis to grow. “What’s more, students who eat into a rolling classroom, farm and green- district’s canning plant so it can preserve more fresh fruits and vegetables enter the house. local tomatoes. And then there’s the school classroom better prepared to learn,” states This was just part of a multi-layered bus, which at press time was being painted. the Georgia Department of Education plan, hatched in 2013, for creating a It will soon travel school-to-school to serve website. robust Farm to School program in the as a learning lab.

In April of this year, Burke County’s south Georgia rural district. The school “Students can come in and plant somecomprehensive Farm to School program system already had a strong connection thing by seed or transplant something,” achieved recognition of the highest order to agriculture, with its 15-acre school Matthews says. “Our motto is ‘dirt to plate.’” when First Lady Michelle Obama — farm, where high school agriculture Tift County Schools is now in the proAmerica’s gardener in chief — visited students could plant crops. But educa- cess of applying for another grant, this time Burke County Middle School as part of her tors in the district wanted to do more to to fund efforts to bring local produce into American Garden Tour. NBC weatherman acquaint kids of all ages with local food, the cafeterias on a regular basis. The system so Career, Technology and Agriculture is already conducting taste tests with local Education Coordinator Craig Matthews foods. paired up with Nutrition Director “Kids are really learning about where their food comes from and why it’s important,” says Matthews.

Decatur City and DeKalb

Many parents in the City Schools of Decatur will be quick to say they take little credit for the fact that their kids will, on

Tift

Decatur

occasion, eat a fresh vegetable. They’ll tell you the recognition for that feat belongs to the district, which in 2010 became the first in the state to create a comprehensive Farm to School program.

Coordinated by the City of Decatur’s Wylde Center, formerly known as Oakhurst More Farm to School Community Garden, the program was • In Morgan County implemented district-wide to focus on Schools, the district switched the four Cs: cafeteria (buying local food), to a local provider that buys classroom (connecting the curriculum), produce from local sources and distribculinary (getting hands-on with food) and utes it to the schools. “Morgan County community (field trips and the like). students will be dining on produce that is

As of the 2014-15 school year, all nine both locally grown and less expensive,” says schools in the system had their own edible Morgan County Schools Nutrition Director school gardens, with students planting Phyllis Martin. The produce may be seeds, watering crops and helping with har- healthier, too. Foods grown to be shipped vests. More than 60 standards-based Farm are picked before they are ripe and treated to School lessons were also taught. with chemicals, so over the miles they lose

“Gardens are definitely a strong trend,” crispness, flavor and nutrients. Malstrom says. “Gardens are among the • The Bibb County School District easiest activities to start, build broad sup- offered fresh Georgia produce more port for and integrate into the curriculum. than 40 times during the 2014-15 school This trend is also influenced by a broader year, and 90 percent of the cultural trend toward gardening, the First lunch menu items during Lady’s Let’s Move initiatives and broad Feed My School for a Week interest in local food.” were grown or produced in

DeKalb Public School’s McNair Georgia. Students also held Discovery Learning Academy, has received a Farm to School parade, art attention for its aquaponics program, and essay contests, and culiwhich has students tending to a tank of nary competitions. bluegill and tilapia fish. The fish fertilize • Among Atlanta Public a tray of plants that grow in water instead Schools, 44 have edible garof soil. dens, ranging from rooftop

gardens with raised beds, to potted edible plants, fruit tree orchards and a greenhouse. • In Carrollton City Schools, nearly 2,400 meals with locally grown ingredients were served every day last year. • The 12 gardens at Cobb County

Dalton

Continued on page 11

Tap into Networks and Community to Grow Your Farm to School Program

Although a Farm to School program can pay off handsomely in diverse ways, initially setting up a program can be challenging, says Brianna Dumas, the Early Head Start, Wellness and Farm to School Dietitian with Burke County Public Schools. “For most districts and farmers, this is uncharted territory. There is a huge gray area of how we do things and how they do things.”

But there are many support organizations to help schools along the path, adds Stacey Malstrom, communications director for the National Farm to School Network. These include the state and regional branches of the National Farm to School Network, FoodCorps, AmeriCorps Farm to School and USDA Farm to School. Moreover, she says states are increasingly adding grant programs, pilot programs or additional meal reimbursement incentives to encourage local purchasing and help bridge the funding gap.

Malstrom adds that one of the biggest challenges is getting buy-in from all of the stakeholders in a child’s life — from school administrators, to teachers, parents, nutrition directors and everyone else in that decision-making chain. “To ensure success, we strongly advise folks who want to start or grow their Farm to School efforts to build a diverse team of stakeholders,” she says. “When people understand how Farm to School can enhance their goals, things start clicking for the whole school community.”

Farm to School Resources:

• Georgia Organics, georgiaorganics.org • National Farm to School Network, farmtoschool.org • Georgia Agricultural Education, gaaged.org • Georgia Department of Education Farm to School Handbook, gadoe.org • Georgia Feed My School, feedmyschool.org • Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, saladbars2schools.org • Community Alliance with Family Farmers (Field Guide for Food Service Directors), caff.org

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Burke Nutrition Director to Lead National Academy

School District’s Big Shanty Intermediate School (third Burke County Public “I’m also incredibly through fifth grade) include Schools Nutrition Director proud of our farm to school a sensory garden that enables special needs students to practice self-regulation and outdoor living through gardening, while building self-confidence as they Donna Martin has been named president-elect of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. program that provides farm fresh produce to our students,” Martin told the committee. By using locally produced fruits and vegetables, student consumpwatch their garden grow. A Martin says she is honored tion rates for those items perimeter garden helps prevent to lead the academy. “We doubled, she said. Serving water retention on the play- are a driving force of profes- in-season fruits and vegetaground and “No Idling” signs sionals tasked with creat- bles have also helped keep Birmingham, the University discourage air pollution. ing a future for our public her district’s food program of Georgia and Augusta • In the Newton health.” fiscally sound, she added. State University. She recently County Schools, Mansfield Last summer, Martin Martin is a graduate of completed a three-year term Elementary students waited testified before the U.S. the University of Alabama at on the board of the School patiently to harvest their late House Education and Nutrition Foundation. fall crops of cabbage, mustard Workforce Committee. greens and broccoli. Chef She shared information Above: Donna Martin Andrew Featherstone from about the creative and (third from left) told a Burge Plantation then delighted them with a presentation of their bounty. He spoke to them about filling their bodies with natural sugars from fruits and vegetables and the importance of avoiding foods labeled with ingredients proven ways schools in her mostly rural school district have been able to maintain a lunch participation rate of 89 percent and a breakfast participation rate of 78 percent. David Steinbridge, The True Citizen U.S. House committee about Burke County’s success in incorporating local produce into school cafeterias. Left: Martin (right) welcomed First Lady Michelle Obama to Burke County MS in April. that they can’t pronounce. Afterward, students enjoyed apple slaw and edible cab- Students partner with Dalton State College in milk cartons. bage bowls with beets, carrots and squash to trap, weigh, mark and release turtles in a • Savannah-Chatham County Schools shaped like a chick in a nest. local pond. They also work with Tennessee has 17 edible gardens and regularly • At Gwinnett County’s Mason Aquarium and the University of Georgia integrate Farm to School into standardsElementary, about 80 perent of the fresh to track migration and count parasites on based lessons. High schoolers use the produce is from local farmers. A third Monarch butterflies. school’s compost bin to examine how of Mason’s grounds are devoted to out- • Last school year, the Bleckley County organisms depend on one another and door learning and the entire landscape is School District served local food 160 times the environment. water-efficient and regionally appropri- and each day baked homemade whole • In the Clarke County School District, ate. Students engaged in STEM learning grain yeast rolls made from locally grown every school has a garden, the cafeterias resulted in the design and installation of and milled flour. feature local produce every week, schools an erosion-resistant terrace. The No Idling • The Decatur County School District hosted 27 garden workdays and the system program is promoted in bus and car lines. has edible gardens and incorporates Farm partnered with University of Georgia gar• Dalton City School’s STEM-certified to School into their standard lessons, with dening students, the State Botanical Garden Brookwood Elementary has a year-round Bainbridge Middle School students creating and other community groups. garden and a focus on sustainability. hydroponic systems to grow collard greens “Educators are beginning to see Farm to School not as an additional component to the curKids Learn that Food Doesn’t Just ‘Magically Appear’ riculum, but actually a lens “Growing up on a family farm cultivated by generations of my family, I under- through which all of their stood early where the food on our kitchen table came from and what it took other teaching strategies to get it there. Today’s fast-food culture has erased that connection for young are enhanced,” concludes people. This is why the Farm to School program is so valuable. It helps boys the Georgia DOE’s Bridges. and girls understand that the things they eat and wear don’t just magically “Food is a tool to engage appear on store shelves.” students.” – Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn), Chairman of the Georgia House Says Malstrom: “This Appropriations Committee and Member of the Agriculture & Consumer work is not just about feedAffairs Committee and the Education Committee. ing kids healthy food — the benefits ripple out.” n