In 2017, Temecula Valley Educators Association member and high school science teacher Toby Brannon applied for a twenty thousand dollar IFT Grant to create a sustainable aquaponics Greenhouse on the campus of Temecula Valley High School (TVHS). Those seven years have brought significant change to the campus with creation of a new Career Technology Education (CTE) pathway in Soil science and Viticulture, elementary and middle school summer science camps, and even a change to its course offerings that have brought positive educational impact to students through hands-on, strength-based learning. 

The consistent theme from students like Advanced Placement (AP) senior student Rylen Steinbuch is the ability to try out different ideas-even if they aren’t successful-to learn as they both fail and ultimately succeed. “We get the chance to do different things like seed germination, and our mushroom growing project in five-gallon containers- we learn as we go.” 

That learning has expanded well beyond the original footprint of the greenhouse, as Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) has made an ongoing commitment of two courses in Biosustainability, while investing in the development of the 5-acre TVHS campus hillside Regenerative Farm, which includes vineyards, an olive grove and other culinary crops. The inclusion of a CTE career pathway in viticulture and Regenerative agriculture was a perfect partnership to the existing program, and the commitment from the district has increased student access and expansion. 

This summer, TVHS Biosustainabilty student volunteers will again earn community service credit hosting science camps for elementary and middle school students, teaching scientific principles while engaging in experiments and activities. Some of this year’s volunteers were former campers in the original summer camp program and will now close the circle as camp hosts. 

For Mr. Brannon, the most important change is in how his students manage their own learning. “The scientific method calls for hypothesis, experimentation, observation and conclusion; learning and chronicling success and failure is science, and these students engage in that process daily.” 

Due to its popularity, TVUSD has continued to expand this program with outreach to the local Temecula Valley wine and olive industry to build a one-of-a-kind outdoor learning space on the TVHS campus. 

With outstanding educators and their innovation, the seed money provided by CTA’s IFT program has made an indelible mark on this high school and the Temecula Valley Unified district.