Get To Know FoodCorps Service Member Shante Chaney & Miranda Watrous

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Shanté Chaney
Project Learning Garden schools:
Garden Hills Elementary, APS

Humphries Elementary, APS
Feldwood Elementary/Pre K, Fulton

What is your motivation to work with school gardens?
I think that knowing how to grow your own food is basic knowledge for EVERYONE because we ALL eat! So I strongly believe working with students and building/ maintaining school gardens is so important because its a way to share this knowledge and experience in an already existing learning environment.

Favorite quote from student or teacher:
“Ms. Shanté are you going to be here forever? “

Favorite veggie and why:
Tomato. The versatility is what has drawn me to this beautiful multi-colored veggie fruit! 

Advice to anyone teaching in a garden:
Go with the flow! Even if your whole plan has been flipped upside down, it may just the perspective you needed to explore the garden today! Remember everything is a potential learning experience.

Your favorite garden activity or recipe:
Yoga in the Garden

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Miranda has recently been hired as a Teaching Fellow for Boston Public Schools. It’s a Pipeline Program developed by the district to bring new teachers from diverse backgrounds into first year teaching positions with the advantage of summer training, teaching summer school, and year-long coaching and mentorship.


Miranda Watrous
Project Learning Garden schools:
Ridgeview Charter Middle, Fulton

Briar Vista Elementary, DeKalb
Champion Theme Middle, DeKalb

What is your motivation to work with school gardens?
I love to see the connections that students can make when exploring and learning in an outdoor garden space. It engages their minds, increases creativity and compassion, and creates a tangible experience to reinforce concepts that they are learning about their world.

Favorite quote from student or teacher:
“Mmm, it smells SWEET!” A 7th grade student who decided to smell a parsley bush. Who knew?!

Favorite veggie and why:
Radishes – they remind me of my students! I never liked radishes until I experienced growing them and eating them with my students from grades K-8 this year. Now every class demands radishes and remembers those lessons most. Every time I see a radish I smile!

Advice to anyone teaching in a garden:
Model, model, model. The students are watching you to understand how best to enjoy this new setting!

Your favorite garden activity or recipe:
Three Sisters Stew – delicious, a wonderful cultural connection, and enjoyed by all!

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To get a better sense of just how amazing Miranda’s contributions to her schools have been, view a few of her incredible projects via this PLG Facebook post: