Giving in Action: Grant Funds Teacher Certification, Student Research, and Invasive Species Removal

Greenhills science teacher Brandon Groff recently received his Michigan Conservation Stewards Program certification through Michigan State University Extension. It was made possible through Greenhills’ Paulus Faculty Growth and Learning Program, a grant program designed to promote student learning by supporting teachers’ growth through inquiry, experimentation, and continuous professional development. Groff’s certification resulted in a new hands-on research and ecosystem restoration project for students.

As part of Groff’s certification, he and his classmates focused on removing the invasive species phragmites, aka the common reed, which is abundant on the Greenhills campus. Groff saw an opportunity to create a unique learning opportunity for students, where they will not only get hands-on experience working outdoors and removing invasive species, but they will partner with the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative on a multi-year research project—implementing its Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework–gathering and reporting data, receiving feedback, and testing its recommendations.

Thank you to the generous donors who make professional development opportunities like this possible and bring learning to life for students.