In the Spotlight: TERRA Environmental Research Institute
May
A high school, setting the bar extra high in education
By Danielle Renee Lee
Talk about being impressed. This institute is an exciting glimpse into what is possible for us to achieve in America. The TERRA Environmental Research Institute is a gold LEED certified public school in Miami Dade County. The school has three academies, giving students a choice of where they can focus their studies, similar to a major in college. The three academies are Engineering Technology and Robotics, Biomedical Research, and Environmental Research and Field Studies. It currently educates grade levels 9th and 10th and will continue to expand as the students upgrade to their next levels.
I first heard of TERRA at a movie screening of the documentary Dirt: The Movie which was hosted by The Green Team at the Unity on the Bay church. After the movie the hosts took a microphone around asking for any questions or comments from the audience. Principal Ms. Carrie Montano spoke enthusiastically about the institute, as did I about A Cup of Green. She came up to me after the screening let out and passed along her contact info and extended an invite to show off the school and the students. The school’s Magnet Lead teacher and Activities director, Angela Holbrook, worked out a proper time for us to visit and welcomed us to the school.
Our tour began in the Engineering Technology and Robotics area. Two very sharp and friendly 10th graders, Stephanie Bahamon and Roger Salgado, took Angie and I around showing us the equipment used to create robots. Yes, the students are designing, building, analyzing and marketing their robots that take place in events such as First Robotics competition and the Hunt-Winston Solar Car Challenge. Stephanie and Roger showed and explained how the students use Master CAD software, CNC machines, and even blow torches to create robots, like their in-progress solar car.
The next stop on our tour of TERRA Environmental Research Institute was a classroom for Biomedical Research. Professor Julie Sierra-Montes showed us an example of some extracted DNA from a strawberry. Two students in this chosen academy, Hiram Rodriguez and Cameron Golden, both 10th graders, explained they are learning about DNA, genetics, and accuracy within the study of these subjects. While walking around the classroom I noticed a small poster that noted to students to “Show Empathy” and respect each other. I thought that was neat.
We walked outside and saw the small garden area and greenhouse that is part of the Environmental Research and Field Studies academy. Though the school does not have an agricultural program, they do use the crops they grow for experiments. The same day we visited the school, they also hosted a tour for Univision. We stood outside with a group of students looking on towards Principal Montano as she spoke with their other visitors. When they left, the principal joked with students and set a challenge for them to think of a habitat for wolves on campus – the mascot for them is the wolves. She also said with a smile on her face “They’re an inspiration to me”.
After our tour of the school, during which we observed recycling bins and signs outside the restrooms that explain how their faucets save on water waste, we followed up with Angela Holbrook again. She took time out of her very busy schedule to answer questions we had. For instance, we asked about the food served at lunch time and if it was the standard public school menu. They noted it mostly was, although they do have an arrangement with the organization Farms to Schools. Ms. Holbrook told us about activities they have such as an Earth Day parade to honor the Recycling Club and fundraisers that include selling trees and water bottles.
The school has gone through 3,000 applicants to fill in 400 seats. We are so excited to know that this school, the first of its kind, exists in our own backyard and is gaining interest from all around; they even had an application sent from New Zealand. Our hope is that the TERRA Environmental Research Institute grows and excels as an example of what the future leaders of our country need. A school to provide a setting for a distinctive curriculum that trusts the students’ ability to learn and stay interested in subjects that will improve the course of our world.
For more details about TERRA Environmental Research Institute click the link to their site below.
http://greenschool.dadeschools.net/TERRA/HOME_PAGE.html
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