Texas School District Adopts Hands-On Wellness Program

The Humble ISD project will deploy Green Bronx Machine's hands-on curriculum and indoor gardens to 24 classrooms across the district. This initiative is funded by the Quest Diagnostics Foundation as part of its Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) program, which aims to address health disparities in marginalized communities. The program was founded by South Bronx educator Stephen Ritz, who started with an after-school program for high schoolers. He and his students have since grown over 165,000 pounds of vegetables in a community where 37% of people face food insecurity. Green Bronx Machine's curriculum is a K-12+ model fully integrated into core subjects like science, math, and language arts. Using Tower Gardens®, an aeroponic growing system, students engage in project-based learning that is aligned with state and international education standards. The program has a track record of significant impact. In its original New York implementation, school attendance soared from 40% to 93% daily, and it helped create 2,200 youth jobs in the Bronx. In one school, there was a 45% increase in passing grades on New York State Science Exams during the program's first year. Now a global initiative, the curriculum is used by 10,000 teachers serving over 275,000 students. It has been recognized by Fast Company as a 2024 Most Innovative Company for its transformational approach to project-based learning. The founder, Stephen Ritz, known as "America's Favorite Teacher," has presented at the Obama White House three times and his TED talk is ranked in the Top 10 for food and education. A replica of his original edible classroom was even installed in the U.S. Botanic Gardens.