A team of Dallas educators working to open an environmental school to take advantage of the vast natural resources in the Great Trinity Forest. Using the Environment as Integrated Content in grades K-5, then layering engineering and IB philosophies through High School - we would graduate students career and college ready in the fields of Biotechnology and Bioengineering.

1. Tierra Madre Academy (TMA)
Building a case for teaching
through the Environment
A Sustainable Education Solutions (SES) School
“To be whole. To be complete. Wilderness reminds
us what it means to be human, what we are
connected to rather than what we are separated
from.” – Terry Tempest Williams

2. National Statistics The STEM Crisis
27.6 percent of AP test takers in the class of 2011
earned a qualifying score on a STEM exam.
38 percent of students who start with a STEM major do
not graduate with one.
The prestigious World Economic Forum ranks the U.S.
as No. 48 in quality of math and science education.
4 percent of Bachelor’s Degrees awarded in the US are
in Engineering. In China, that number is 31%.
www.nms.org

3. State of the Union Address “At schools like P-TECH in Brooklyn, a collaboration
between New York public schools and City University of
New York and IBM, students will graduate with a high
school diploma and an associate’s degree in computers
or engineering. We need to give every American student
opportunities like this.”
“I’m announcing a new challenge, to redesign America’s
high schools so they better equip graduates for the
demands of a high-tech economy. And we’ll reward
schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and
employers, and create classes that focus on science,
technology, engineering and math, the skills today’s
employers are looking for to fill the jobs that are there
right now and will be there in the future.”
President Barack Obama, 2/11/2013

4. Teaching Environment
as Integrated Context (EIC)
71% of 4th graders met or exceeded District
standards in expository writing compared to 48%
EIC Statistics
the previous year, and on narrative writing, 84%
compared to 47%. This is after 1 year in the
program.
As evidenced by disciplinary referrals to the office
decreasing by 91%, for all grades, during the first
three years of implementing EIC.
www.seer.org

5. Pillars of Green Education
Green Ribbon Schools

7. Making it Green at TMA
Solar and Wind Powered
Rain and Grey Water Harvesting
Farm-to-School Produce Sourcing
Greenhouse Gardening
Diverse Natural School Grounds
Hydroponics and Aquatics
Environmental Stewardship
Healthy Space Environments

8. Making it Educational at TMA

9. Environment as Integrated Content (EIC Model)
Integrated-Interdisciplinary Instruction crossing traditional subject-
Kinder – 5th grade
matter boundaries;
Collaborative Instruction connecting teachers, students and the
community in shared learning experiences of mentoring and tutoring;
Community-Based Investigations offering hands-on and minds-on
experiences relevant to students' lives;
Learner-Centered, Constructivist Approaches building on students'
interest, needs, knowledge and experience;
Cooperative and Independent Learning promoting collaboration among
students yet encouraging individual students to maximize their potential;
and,
Local Natural and Community Surroundings as the Context for
instruction, learning and service.
Forest Kindergarten correlating natural and social systems
Multiple Intelligence exploration and strengthening
STEM integration in and out of the classroom
Dual Language, Bilingual, English Immersion programs

10. th
Continuing EIC Model Framework
Grades 6 – 8
Engaged as environmental mentors for Primary scholars
SMU’s Infinity Project – Engineering focus
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade
Machines Robotics Environmental Engineering
Engineering Structures Engineering Design Sound Engineering
Power Rocketry Biomedical Engineering
Reading and Writing Workshops
HS credits in Algebra I and Foreign Language

11. Accelerated Block - Instituting 4x4 Course Schedules
Flexibility in content delivery
Reduces teacher load and focuses on course depth
Increases quality instruction (course taught twice in one year)
and lab experiences with extended time and daily classes
th
Re-sequencing of Sciences
Grades 9 – 12
World Health Research, Biology, Physics, Chemistry
Career and Technology Education (CTE) Strand
Biotech, Advanced Biotech, Practicum in STEM (college credits)
Writing Strand in addition to ELA courses
Literary Genres, Creative Writing, Scientific and Research
Writing, Practical Writing
Technical and Expressive Arts supporting STEM
College/Career Readiness
21st Century Skills, Mentoring Internships and Service Learning,
Senior Capstone Paneled Presentations

12. Helping scholars to succeed,
graduate, and pursue higher
learning opportunities…

13. A school that exists in isolation without standards,
throws teaching convention out the window,
and abolishes textbooks and testing.

14. What it is…
An innovative school for the future.
Inquiry-based education with proven curriculum.
Led by professional, compassionate, and creative Teachers.
Understanding the Environment and building the capacity of its Scholars.
Answering the needs of the Nation through planned STEM and best practice integration,
all while supporting the joy of learning for Scholars and Teachers.

15. TMA’s Mission

16. Core Value Commitments We are Impact Oriented,
Outward Focused, and Self-
Realized global citizens.
Commitment to inquiry-based, experiential
learning and STEM education.
Commitment to a relevant, place-based
education.
Commitment to sustainability, environmental
stewardship, and service learning.
Commitment to combating Nature Deficit
Disorder.
Commitment to creating a healthy-space to
nourish students mentally and physically.

17. “Tug on anything at all and you’ll find it
connected to everything else in the universe.”
John Muir
Community Support
Community connections with non-profits,
businesses, faith-based, and local governments.
Community involvement in developing
enrollment base.
501(c)3 application funds
Planning grant opportunities
Full implementation funding support

18. TMA Timeline
Application for Generation 19 due in February 2014
Award notification in August 2014
Open as a K-2 and 6th grade in August 2015
K-9 by 2018
K-12 by 2021

20. Nature photography by Dallas blogger at
www.dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com

21. The Journey Begins
We are ready to brave
the waters ahead with
the families of SE Dallas,