From inspiring a hydroponics unit in the school kitchen to creating an indoor green space for students to relax and connect with one another, Jill Williams is leading a hydroponics movement at Green Lake School District. Read on to discover how she's transforming lives with HydroConnect.
Mini-Bio
Name | Location: Jill Williams, Green Lake, WI
I have been a special education teacher for 25 years. My first degree is in Restaurant and Hotel Management, so hydroponics makes sense in combining my degrees. I am an unconventional teacher. I find what works for our students and then prove to my district why it is important, making them think it was their idea.
What has been the coolest or most memorable moment so far you've experienced with your students through HydroConnect?
Watching Jason go from "that kid" to "THAT KID", now watching him train his apprentice, Sawyer.
How has the HydroConnect program impacted your school and students?
So much so that another teacher wrote a grant for another hydroponics unit to be placed in the kitchen. There has been so much interest that older kids come in and relax to the hydroponics sounds and talk with the students in the room.
How have you integrated HydroConnect into your teaching routine?
Individual class lessons, group lessons, art, poetry, math, social skills, and learning how to become and maintain a leadership role.
When did you know you wanted to become a teacher?
I wanted to be a teacher because I felt bad for the kids who didn't get it and left behind.
What's your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is watching students grow and find themselves and learn to stand on their own.
What’s your least favorite part?
I know most people would say paperwork but I love analyzing the data. So I will say summer because I know some of my students will have an awful summer of inconsistency, no food, and no adult or personal interactions.
What’s the most important skill you've developed on your path as a teacher?
COMMUNICATION: finding how a student communicates through written words, drawing, doing, or verbal.
What are your future goals for HydroConnect at your school?
One goal is to show how hydroponics provides hands-on ways to learn science, nutrition, and sustainability. Goal two is to provide time for isolated students to find themselves and flourish.
What advice would you give to other teachers considering joining Green Our Planet’s programs?
DO IT. Nothing is negative about this community. Even if your plants don't produce, everyone is still learning and laughing.
Thank you so much for being a part of our community, Jill! We can't wait to see what you'll do next.
To learn more about our programs, join us at our next free 20-minute webinar.
