Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/two-schools-same-vision/5022541/
I have had the opportunity to design outdoor classrooms at two schools, one as a principal and the other as a parent. After seeing what was accomplished at Gomez Heritage in one year, I wanted to do the same for Plattsmouth Elementary where my own children attend. It is amazing how the vision was the same although the culture and community are different. The first step at both schools was to learn more about the research and present it to the district to gain approval for our projects. After that, the work began with communicating to teachers and parents, bringing all of us together who were interested to start the plan.
Most parents speak Spanish at Gomez Heritage in South Omaha, Nebraska; therefore, an interpreter always supports the group. The parent community at Plattsmouth is more rural with all English-speaking parents. Did this matter? Not at all! The vision was the same!
Furthermore, both sets of parents brought the heart and soul to projects when thinking creatively during the design phase. Both sets of parents offered what they could to help make a difference. Whether it was physical labor, donations, connections to businesses for support, or fundraising efforts, both school communities came together ...