Learning Gate Community School Oral History Project
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Interviewer
Shanna Hunt and Maria Ceron-Castilla
Publication Date
4-15-2025
Abstract
Patti Girard traces the founding and development of Learning Gate Community School. It emphasizes the school’s roots in environmental values, community engagement, and experiential education. The school emerged from Girard’s background in environmental awareness and early childhood education. It later evolved into a charter institution centered on student-driven learning and ecological literacy. The pedagogical model prioritizes teacher autonomy, interdisciplinary curriculum design, and outdoor learning environments. These elements foster student engagement and achievement. The account also highlights challenges such as institutional growth, community resistance, and the need to balance innovation with regulatory expectations. It underscores the school’s broader impact on environmental education and student development.
Keywords
Charter schools--Florida, Environmental education--Florida, Elementary education--curricula, Community and school--Florida, Experiential learning--United States
Extent
00:57:39; 19 page transcript
Subject: geographic
Lutz (Fla.), Hillsborough County (Fla.)
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Media Type
Audio; Text
Format
Digital only
Identifier
lgcs_ohp-1017
Recommended Citation
Girard, Patti, "Patti Girard Oral History Interview" (2025). Learning Gate Community School Oral History Project. 18.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/lgcs_ohp/18
Rights Statement
