Educator 500 Spotlight: Susan Yocum, “Mushroom Lady of Kennett”
Susan Yocum is a seasoned second grade teacher leader of Kennett Consolidated School District. A few days before school started once more, she visited the 3E Institute to talk about her Educator 500 project and entrepreneurial education. Here are her answers to a few questions:
Tell about your Educator 500 project and why you did it.
Years ago my principal asked me to attend a seminar on agriculture in the classroom at Penn State. I was sponsored by the mushroom growers of Chester County. Taking the seminar gave me ideas about how to make the technical material presented more user-friendly by having a peer teacher introduce the new terminology. I was asked to become that teacher liaison and to develop an introductory workshop, which I continue to lead each summer at Penn State. It’s called “From Spore to Sauté.”
When I began to put together a bibliography for the teachers, I discovered there were no children’s books on mushroom growing. So I went to the growers with the issue and they asked me to write such a book.
My students were interested in the project and I enlisted their minds. “Boys and girls, I have a big report to write about growing mushrooms,” I said. “Where should I get information?” They told me, go to the library. But I said the library had no books on the subject, so they suggested searching on the computer. I told them the language on this topic on the computer is too technical. Finally one of the kids said,” Go to the mushroom farm.” “Yes!” was my resounding response.
In fact, I interviewed all the farm workers from managers to pickers. I took pictures. When the book was complete, some of my students glowed with pride when they could identify a job at the farm in the book as, “That’s my Dad’s job!”
I went to Guanajuato with a West Chester study tour. There a prominent Mexican research scientist asked me to do a Spanish version of the book. One thing led to another - the opportunities “mushroomed,” so to speak.
What were the biggest challenges to your project?
My big challenges were getting funding to publish the books and the amount of time it took to do this project. Working full time and juggling multiple projects, yet keep this particular ball in the air was tricky. Then, too, I have no expertise in the Spanish language, so I had to get support from our ESL staff. Also, at some point I had to turn the project over to others such as graphic artists and a printer.
How does your project help improve student learning and achievement?
This project is a great way children of our migrant worker and Spanish speaking families can be motivated to read, learn and share with their peers at school. Our Hispanic students often come to us feeling lonely and disoriented. After all, they come to a foreign place with a new language, English. They may not really understand the work their parents do. Did you know that, basically, they don’t grow mushrooms in Mexico?
The project helped kids take pride in their working parents and understand the mushroom farms as a major economic factor of their community. Feeling accepted and worthy are pretty basic requirements to achieving in school.
What advice would you share with another educator with a “Big Idea” for a student learning project, to make their vision become a reality?
I would tell anyone with a big idea to remember it will take more time than they imagine to accomplish what they want. Your personal or professional life is sure to present blocks at some point. You have to remember just to put the Idea on the back burner for a time. But don’t take it off the stove. Let it simmer for a while.
Believe in your dream and you will be amazed at the support you receive. Others will read your excitement as genuine and they will support you in ways you may never have imagined.
By the way, getting involved in the 3E community is like starting a small garden from seed that grows and grows. Right now I am planning to apply for a 3E seed grant to purchase books for students in a new project I started. The community of 3E has helped me grow professionally, so I plan to serve as a 3E Ambassador to help the program grow and spread.
Read Sue’s description of her Educator 500 project Let's Visit a Mushroom Farm. To hear Sue’s ideas on mentoring connect to her podcast – click here. To learn more about 3E Institute and its innovative programs visit the rest of our website or call the 3E Institute at 610-738-0582.