An Education in Conservation
“I built my trip around visiting the Green School in Bali and was able to experience conservation occurring all over Southeast Asia…The work they are doing to help the planet far exceeds that of any school I have seen. It is truly a magical place”
-Laura Balliett
Harding Middle School, Lakewood
Laura Balliett at the Green School in Bali. The school, which is built out of bamboo, is “committed to education for sustainability in a natural environment through a purpose-driven curriculum.”
Why did you choose the particular location you did for your Jennings Fund For Teachers experience?
Laura: I chose Bali and Borneo because I saw an advertisement for the Green School in Bali. I have a deep passion for conservation and feel it should be incorporated into our curriculum. The Green School encompasses these ideals and takes it to a hands on level. I built my whole trip around visiting this school and was able to experience conservation occurring all over Southeast Asia.
What were you most curious to learn about?
Laura: I wanted to learn how environmental conservation was incorporated into the curriculum. I wanted to learn how to incorporate it into my own classroom.
Did you have any concerns before the trip in regards to where you were going or what you thought you would experience?
Laura: I was worried I did not give myself enough time in each location. Even though I spent over two weeks there, it still felt like my itinerary was wall-to-wall. In the end, the trip ended up being perfect, and I was able to learn far more than I expected to learn.
How did you hope the experience would impact your teaching or your own personal growth?
Laura: First, the Green School was an AMAZING place, and I hold it in my heart. I left feeling so inspired and i have been working to inspire students here at home. All of my projects have a thread of environmentalism in them, and I started a Green Team Club that meets after school. We have already started a marker and pen recycling drive, and we are planning a butterfly garden for the spring.
What was the highlight of the trip?
Laura: The Green School was by far the best part of the trip. I got teary-eyed multiple times as I toured the campus. The work they are doing there to help the planet far exceeds that of any school I have seen and the students take an active role in the learning process. It is truly a magical place. I hope to enroll my own children someday.
Do you have any advice for teachers who are in the process of completing a FFT application for 2020?
Laura: I would suggest applicants make sure their application clearly explains their goals and all aspects of their trip pertaining to meeting these goals. I was on a mission to learn about environmental education and developed an amazing trip with that focus. Maintain a clear focus!
“I was on a mission to learn about environmental education and developed an amazing trip with that focus.”
What was the highlight of the trip?
Laura: The Green School was by far the best part of the trip. I got teary-eyed multiple times as I toured the campus. The work they are doing there to help the planet far exceeds that of any school I have seen and the students take an active role in the learning process. It is truly a magical place. I hope to enroll my own children someday.
Do you have any advice for teachers who are in the process of completing a FFT application for 2020?
Laura: I would suggest applicants make sure their application clearly explains their goals and all aspects of their trip pertaining to meeting these goals. I was on a mission to learn about environmental education and developed an amazing trip with that focus. Maintain a clear focus!
Back at Harding Middle School in Lakewood, Laura meets once a week with members of the Green Team Club. They have started a pen and marker recycling program and have plans to create a butterfly garden this spring.