ACHS Teacher Earns Department of Ag Honor

Taylor Anderson, a history teacher at Ankeny Centennial High School has been named the Iowa Department of Agriculture's Teacher of the Year, according to a release from the Ankeny School District.

Anderson plans to create outdoor classrooms near the wetland area around the high school.

A butterfly garden, bird boxes and trails are all planned for the outdoor space.

Anderson will be honored with the award in a ceremony on Sept. 5.

See the full release below:

Ankeny Centennial High School history teacher Taylor Anderson has been named Teacher of the Year by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for creating outdoor classrooms for students.

Taylor will be honored with an award during a ceremony on September 5 for his outstanding performance in creating public awareness of the need to safeguard our heritage of natural and human resources. 

"I'm very excited about the award," said Mr. Anderson.  "We have great teachers, students and administration who are allowing us to utilize our passions."

Taylor is enriching the education of ACHS students by establishing outdoor classrooms near the pond area of the school.   The classrooms are in several stages of development, and will include things like a planting area, butterfly garden, bird boxes, and trails.  Taylor is also very interested in Iowa history and he’s connected names of landowners to each classroom area.

“His vision and plan brought this wonderful outdoor campus to life,” said ACHS Principal Dr. Jen Lindaman.

One feature of the space is a classroom monument Taylor built out of a huge maple tree from his parents' farm.  He crafted it into a teacher table.  From the same tree, he also created stumps for the students to sit on.

"This gives kids living in suburbia a chance to connect with the outdoors and do hands-on projects and hopefully develop a passion for conservation," Anderson noted.

These spaces will be used all across the curriculum, from math and science to art and PE.  Taylor says the project is still evolving, he's been working with the Department of Natural Resources to get the pond stocked and he's been contacted by Eagle Scouts wanting to do projects.
 
“I’m so pleased he’s taken the time to do this project, which will ultimately help kids,” said  Dr. Lindaman.  “It’s so important kids understand conservation and this is a powerful space on our campus in which to do that.”

Each year, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship recognizes teachers who provide leadership for agriculture in Iowa and promote responsible use of natural resources. Taylor will be presented a plaque by Linda Zaletel, Executive Director of the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition, during the 67th annual Iowa Soil Conservation conference in West Des Moines next month.