By: Angela Brown
Coach Prime, Deion Sanders, says in his book Elevate and Dominate: “You’re not just here to show up. You’re here to take over.” At Hewitt Elementary, we’ve taken that challenge in our own way. We aren’t taking over by winning games; we’re taking over with joy. We are moving learning outdoors! Transforming God’s creation into another classroom and fostering a culture where every child can thrive, lead, and feel a true sense of belonging. Hewitt’s dream of becoming the first Texas Green Ribbon School isn’t just about gardening or recycling. It’s about joy. Joy in learning, joy in leading, and joy in being part of something bigger than ourselves.
A Journey in Leadership
I can hardly put into words how thankful I am for the opportunities that have come my way. Back in February 2024, my amazing principals believed in me and gave me the chance to return to school at Baylor to pursue a MA in School Leadership. I never thought of myself as a leader, but these two incredible ladies saw something in me, and now I see it too. This program has opened my eyes to what leadership can be, and God has opened doors I never imagined. One of the most exciting things is helping to build something very special at Hewitt Elementary: an Outdoor Learning Center for our children.
Planting the Dream of a Green Ribbon School
During one of my Baylor classes, my professor, Dr. Bill Sterrett, sparked an even bigger idea. What began as lessons in leadership grew into a vision for Hewitt to become a Green Ribbon School. That dream has taken root in ways I never imagined. Baylor Sustainability Leadership Council and Baylor Center for School Leadership are walking alongside us, and our local high school has joined in to help us build and sustain this dream. My heart overflows with joy to be part of this, and I know the best is yet to come.
Roots of Our Outdoor Learning Center
Our story actually began long before this year. Back in 2011, Hewitt Elementary built its first small garden. A shed was added in 2014, a weather station in 2018, and in 2024, we received a $5,500 Texas Healthy Communities Grant. That grant gave us the resources to expand and dream bigger. Today, our Outdoor Learning Center has garden beds, a teepee for reading, sensory play areas, flexible seating, and even a greenhouse. When I walk outside with my kindergartners, it feels like stepping into a place where curiosity blooms as quickly as the flowers.
Growing Leaders Through Ownership
The best part of this journey is that it has never been about me. It has always been about us. Our Garden Club gives students real ownership of the work. They water plants, care for chickens, and manage the compost system. Thanks to Home Depot, every classroom has a bright orange compost bucket, and each day, students proudly carry their scraps to the garden bins. What looks like waste becomes rich soil for new growth, and along the way, children learn responsibility, sustainability, and the power of small actions.
Community Partners in Growth
The wider community has joined in, too. Baylor’s Sigma Chi students volunteered through their Steppin’ Out program, offering hands and hearts to our work. Baylor’s Sustainability Department has offered mentorship and guidance. Midway High School’s agriculture and engineering students are helping us dream even bigger, planning an interactive walking track and designing a wind turbine to bring clean energy to our campus. Watching little children and teenagers work side by side has been one of the greatest joys of all. Paul’s reminder in 1 Corinthians 12 comes alive in our garden: “The body is not made up of one part but of many.”
Lessons Rooted in the Outdoors
Outdoor learning is not about moving desks outside; it is about letting the outdoors shape the lesson. Each grade level has found its own way to make the space meaningful. Pre-K students play daily in the mud kitchen and cover the sidewalks with chalk art as they learn to share and imagine. Second graders used the garden for a writing project, where leaves, rocks, and flowers became characters for original stories. In kindergarten, we count eggs from the chicken coop, curl up with books in the teepee, and take our journals outside to record what we notice. Research confirms what we see every day: outdoor learning strengthens academics while nurturing emotional regulation, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Dignity, Leadership, and Belonging
As a Title I school, many of our children don’t always have the chance to plant seeds, dig in dirt, or care for animals at home. The Outdoor Learning Center changes that. It is not just about science; it is about dignity. Every child has the opportunity to experience wonder and take part in something real. Through our Leader in Me framework, these experiences become leadership lessons. Students practice being proactive when they choose garden jobs, put first things first when they care for the chickens, and learn to synergize when they work together to plant and build. It is stewardship of the earth, but it is also discipleship in learning to care for one another.
Looking Toward Green Ribbon Recognition
Our next step is applying to become the first Texas Green Ribbon School. That recognition honors schools that model sustainability, wellness, and environmental leadership. It is more than a badge of honor. It is a commitment to raising children who are curious, capable, and compassionate leaders. We believe joy grows when we care for God’s creation together, and becoming a Green Ribbon School is one more way to live out that belief.
Planting Seeds of Joy
I will never forget the first time my students saw a tiny sprout push through the soil. Their faces lit up with joy. “We grew that!” Those words meant everything to me on what this journey is about. Educational leadership is a lot like gardening. We plant seeds, we water them, and then we trust God to bring the growth. Moving learning outdoors has reminded me that joy comes when we let go of control and let God work through the small things. And here’s the beautiful part: you don’t need a greenhouse or chickens to begin. We just need curious minds, intentional lessons, and fresh air. You can take your class outside, read a book under a tree, or draw with chalk on the sidewalk. Just watch what grows. When kids learn in God’s creation, joy is never far behind. I want to leave with one more quote from Deion Sanders, “Don’t be afraid to dream big y’all. There’s no limit to what you can achieve if you put your mind to it.”
