Mandy Randolph Teaches Foods, Flexibility and Sustainability in "Farm to Classroom"

The Orcas Island School District (OISD) staff has become particularly nimble in devising innovative and flexible programming over the past years, as state funding declines.

And Mandy Randolph, herself a product of the OISD education program (Class of ’95), is the poster child for that programming. Randolph has taught in the Orcas Elementary School every year for the past seven years – and she has been subject to the “Reductions in Force” (RIFs) that are announced every spring as state school districts finalize teacher contracts.

In past years, Randolph has been re-assigned in the fall, when enrollment numbers are known, as a Kindergarten, 3^rd and 4^th grade classroom teacher and a pre-school reading specialist. This year was just the same, only different.

RIF’d again last spring, Randolph was hired back as a specialist. District administration has crafted a unique schedule of assignments for Randolph, from a “Farm to Classroom” class, a leadership class for 6th graders, supervision of the dance classes taught through a partnership with the Orcas Center, and the growing Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program.

When planning subjects for her specialist time with the students, Randolph considered a gardening curriculum, building on fellow teacher Anne Ford McGrath’s work bringing the Farm-to-Cafeteria program into the school curriculum.

Her plan was approved by Elementary Principal Kyle Freeman, whom Randolph describes as “immediately approachable.”

Prepared to list five strong reasons for the program, she asked Freeman, “When can I talk to you?”

“Now,” he replied.

No sooner had Randolph announced her idea, ready to launch into the reasons for the program, than Freeman agreed:  “Absolutely – go for it!”

Farm to Cafeteria kids go apple picking on a recent fall day. Later, they made apple fennel bisque back at school.

“Farm to Classroom” works closely with the “Farm to Cafeteria” program that puts healthy, locally-grown foods in the school cafeteria for kids to eat. Each grade has a class once a week with Randolph, teaching garden and kitchen concepts. “Unless the kids have a connection to food they’re not likely to eat it,” Randolph says.

Kids need to learn about sustainability and supporting local agriculture, eating local products, she says. “We have so many resources here and local farming supports our families and parents.”

As well as food production and preparation, the language of respect and specificity are taught in Randolph’s class.

Earlier this year, the students test-tasted tomatoes, with samples from local gardens as well as from the grocery store. At least two kids in each class didn’t want to try the tomatoes; but they joined in the survey and rated the vegetable with “smiley” or “frowny” faces.

The class has “expired” certain words such as “yukky,” “gross,” “icky” and “disgusting.” They are taught to explain their taste preferences with specific words of description, such as “squishy,” “salty,” “not ripe.”

Saying “I hate it” is not allowed; instead the kids learn to substitute, “It’s not my favorite.”

“They learn to be respectful, and never to be rude. It’s fine if they really don’t like tomatoes, but they understand that when someone has gone to the effort to give you something, you should respect their gift,” Randolph says.

She hopes local experts will come to the students and share what they know – whether it be farming, bee-keeping, weeding, composting or bread-making – whatever involves the field-to-table connection.  “I can do the classroom management, and you don’t have to have a dog and pony show to share what you’re passionate about. That’s what makes a teacher — being passionate to share what you know.”

The school garden has been harvested all summer long by Farm to Cafeteria volunteers. Randolph hopes it will also yield a winter crop, and invites the Master Gardeners on the island to give her a call when they have produce to share.

Randolph herself is a gardener, trying something new each year with varying success – “every year I fail and try again,” she says. This year she grew tomatillas, sunflowers and squash, started from seeds.  “The school garden is my inspiration; it has great soil, and it’s nice to have the helping hands [of Farm to Cafeteria volunteers]. Everything grows in there.”

ALE and OASIS K-8

Randolph’s schedule is complicated, and made more so but the fact that she has several “jobs” within the district.

In addition to “Farm to Classroom,” she is the OASIS/K-8  liaison.  “Orcas Alternative Student-Initiated Studies” (OASIS) is the district program founded under the Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) state law that supports home-based learning.

OASIS High School was formally established in 2007; it is located between the school library and the old gym. Marta Branch is the OASIS High School Teacher; her hours have increased with additional enrollment and the high school now has about 50 students enrolled.

The OASIS/K-8 program is a parent-partnership program, says Randolph; “The parents are the teachers, and I’m a contact teacher, helping create a written individual student learning plan.”

The parents have the resource of a classroom in the elementary building, and check in weekly through an internet pilot program called WINGS (which will be mandatory by the end of this year).

Randolph is also responsible for disbursing public funds and following the state guidelines for ALE. The OASIS/K-8 program has about 75 students enrolled, some from neighboring islands.

With a larger-than-usual 6^th grade of 44 students, Elementary/Middle School Principal Kyle Freeman is working with  Randolph to create a leadership class to help the 6^th graders be role models for the younger students, and to transition into the Middle School.

Randolph is also the teacher responsible for supervising the dance/theater class that the School District offers in partnership with Orcas Center.

Randolph relishes the variety of her schedule. She sees many other island kids, like her, returning to the island — not staying on after high school, but going away and returning.

Randolph attended University of Washington in Seattle, but said, “It wasn’t the lifestyle for me.” When she learned that Western Washington University in Bellingham has a reputation for a great education program, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree and teacher certification through them.

“So many people I went to school with are bringing their kids back to school. I can’t imagine raising kids somewhere else.

“I’ve been given an amazing opportunity.”