MenuEdible Schoolyard Outdoor Classroom
Starting in the fall of 2016, Small Center teamed up with First Line Schools, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, and Phillis Wheatley Community School to reimagine what an outdoor garden space and classroom could look like.
Project Dates
August 2016–June 2017
Context
The educational landscape in New Orleans has changed vastly since Hurricane Katrina. The city is served by a decentralized charter school system, and many charter schools have emerged to test various models of education. First Line Schools (FLS) is one such charter which has a signature program called Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESY NOLA). ESY NOLA’s aim is to improve the long-term well-being of their students, families, and school community, by integrating hands-on organic gardening and seasonal cooking into the school curriculum, culture, and cafeteria programs.
Small Center Engagement
Small Center started working with ESY NOLA in Fall 2016 to develop a design plan for the Garden Kitchen Classroom at Firstline’s Phillis Wheatley Community School in Tremé, developing design concepts that will serve as a tool to help secure funding for the outdoor multi-use weather-proof classroom.
Partner Organization
Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESY NOLA), is a signature program of FirstLine Schools and provides K-12 students across FirstLine’s five open enrollment schools in New Orleans with a rich array of experiences that will prepare them for success in school and in life.
First Line Schools’ mission is to create and inspire great open admissions public schools in New Orleans.
Outcome
The desired outcome is an increased capacity to teach students, increased parent participation and more connection with the surrounding community. Small Center developed a booklet that explores and translates the garden classroom vision so that the First Line and ESY NOLA team can fundraise for and implement the vision.
Collaborators
Edible Schoolyard NOLA
- Kerrie Partridge
- Charlie Weber
First Line Schools Operations
- Chris Bowers
- Rebekah Cain
- Joe Neary
First Line Schools Development
- Claudia Barker
- Alisha Johnson
Phillis Wheatley Community School
- Sienna Kuykendall
- Charlotte Steele
Team Members
Project Leads
- Seth Welty (Design Lead)
- Emilie Taylor Welty (Project Manager)
- Sue Mobley (Engagement Advisor)
Students
- Kristen McDaniel
- Rachel Neu
- Ethan Shaw
Staff
- Shoshana Gordon
- Maggie Hansen
- Nick Jenisch
- Donn Peabody
Support
- Johnson Controls, Inc.
- Enterprise Holdings Foundation
