Insights from Georgia STEM Educators on How They Use Hydroponics
Hydroponics is more than just a method for growing plants—it’s a powerful tool for hands-on STEAM learning that is reshaping how students engage with science, technology, engineering, arts and math. In a recent GrowBlock in the Classroom virtual panel, Georgia educators gathered to share their experiences integrating hydroponics into their schools, discussing both the successes and challenges of implementing this innovative approach to STEM education.
Led by Greg Crafter, founder of Produce’d, the panel featured educators who have adopted GrowBlock hydroponic systems and other hydroponic models, providing real-world insights into how these tools inspire students, connect to curriculum, and promote sustainability. Here’s a look at the key takeaways from this powerful discussion.
Why Hydroponics? Teachers Share Their Motivations
The panel began with educators discussing why they introduced hydroponics into their classrooms, with reasons ranging from food equity to hands-on learning opportunities.
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Latonya McClendon, a science teacher and STEM lead at North Clayton Middle School, emphasized that her school sits in a food desert, where students have limited access to fresh produce. For her, hydroponics is not just about science—it’s about empowering students with the ability to grow their own food and take control of their nutrition.
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Katrina Hammonds, STEM Coordinator at McNair Middle School, introduced hydroponics as part of a school and community garden initiative. Many of her students live in apartments and don’t have access to traditional gardens, so hydroponics provides a practical, space-efficient way to teach food security and sustainability.
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Elizabeth Proctor, a STEM teacher at a K-2 school, saw hydroponics as a design and engineering challenge. Partnering with a local bucket manufacturer, she is working on a project where students design hydroponic systems using repurposed industrial buckets, allowing them to explore both sustainability and hands-on problem-solving.
These educators are proving that hydroponics is more than just a plant-growing experiment—it’s an essential life skill that connects students to real-world issues.
Student Engagement: Taking Ownership of the Learning Process
One of the biggest benefits of introducing hydroponics in schools has been the way students take ownership of the systems and become more invested in their learning.
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Antonio Ellis, STEM Coordinator at Michelle Obama STEM Academy, shared that his students were so excited about hydroponics that they began asking their middle school teachers if they would continue using the system in the next grade. This student-driven enthusiasm is pushing educators to expand hydroponics beyond individual classrooms and into entire school curriculums.
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Shakita Lanier, a STEM specialist at Humphries Elementary, discussed how her students check water levels, monitor plant growth, and maintain their GrowBlock systems daily. When she first introduced the system, many students didn’t know where their food came from. Now, they are excited to learn about nutrition, sustainability, and the science of plant growth.
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Todd Long, a science teacher at Kemp Elementary, highlighted how hydroponics sparks curiosity. His students love testing water quality, troubleshooting plant growth, and even using hydroponic produce in cooking experiments.
This hands-on approach makes learning tangible and exciting while reinforcing critical STEM skills like data collection, problem-solving, and systems thinking.
Watch Now: GrowBlock in the Classroom – a virtual panel with Georgia teachers using hydroponics in the classroom with the help of Produce’d.
Challenges & Lessons Learned: Implementing Hydroponics in Schools
While the benefits of hydroponics in the classroom are clear, the educators also discussed some common challenges and how they have worked to overcome them.
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Teacher Buy-In & Training: Many educators found that they were the only ones running their hydroponics programs at first, and it was difficult to get other teachers involved. Solution? Training sessions and forming teacher teams to make the program sustainable even if staff changes occur.
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System Maintenance & School Breaks: Keeping hydroponic systems running over long school breaks can be a challenge. Several educators suggested assigning student teams to maintain the systems or moving them to a central location where staff can check in periodically.
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Finding the Right System: Not all hydroponic units are created equal. Some teachers started with cheaper consumer models that required constant troubleshooting. Many of them switched to GrowBlock because it was designed specifically for classroom use, making it more reliable and easier to maintain.
These insights are invaluable for any school looking to start a hydroponics program. Teachers interested in learning more can attend our upcoming GrowEdu training events to get hands-on experience and expert guidance, click here to learn more.
The Role of Partnerships & Community Support
A major theme in the discussion was how outside partnerships have helped schools expand their hydroponics programs.
- Greg Crafter & Produce’d: Many panelists credited Greg and the Produce’d team with hands-on support, including system setup, troubleshooting, and in-class training.
- Local Urban Farms & Community Gardens: Schools are collaborating with local growers to teach students about food systems beyond hydroponics.
- Grants & Funding Opportunities: Several educators have successfully secured grant funding to expand their programs. Many teachers expressed interest in learning more about grant writing, which led to the creation of a new professional development event focused on funding classroom hydroponics programs.
For educators looking to build partnerships and secure funding, check out our upcoming “Grant Writing for STEM Education and Hydroponics” workshop on Eventbrite.
Want to Bring Hydroponics to Your Classroom? Here’s What’s Next.
This panel discussion made one thing clear: Hydroponics is a game-changer in STEM education. If you’re an educator interested in bringing GrowBlock and hands-on hydroponics learning to your students, there are several ways to get involved:
🎟 Register for a GrowEdu Event: We have upcoming professional development workshops where teachers can learn how to incorporate hydroponics into their classrooms. Check out the full schedule on Eventbrite.
🏫 Schedule a Field Trip: Visit the Produce’d Learning Lab & Farm to give students a hands-on hydroponics experience.
📚 Explore Classroom Resources: From curriculum support to maintenance services, Produce’d provides all the tools educators need to make hydroponics a success. Learn more about GrowEdu!
Hydroponics isn’t just about growing plants—it’s about growing knowledge, curiosity, and sustainable habits in the next generation. Join the movement and bring GrowBlock into your classroom today! 🌱
