Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/912628
hen Emalyn Leppard walks by, students sometimes toss their junk food into the trash cans. When she sees that, the teacher knows she is making a difference. Leppard founded the Comprehensive Health and Wellness Program at Mont- gomery Middle School in 2015 to help students and families make healthy choices. Aside from encouraging a healthier lifestyle, the program fosters a strong sense of community through fun activities and a shared purpose. "Studies show that today's young people are the first generation whose members are dying from preventable diseases including heart problems, arterial sclerosis and diabe- tes," says Leppard, a San Diego Education Association member. "Studies show they may even have shorter lives than their parents. I'm doing whatever I can do to change that. I want my students to have a different mindset and understand they are what they eat." The school's garden, which she has overseen since 2005, is the crown jewel of the program. Students grow herbs, fruits and vegetables that are served in the cafeteria "[OUR FAMILY DINNERS ARE] A WAY FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO SHARE A PIECE OF THEMSELVES THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN IN AN ORDINARY CLASSROOM." W Leppard tests a water sample from the fish pond with Linda Tran and Ventura Arreola. EMALYN LEPPARD Health and wellness maven San Diego Education Association GARDEN HEALTH AND WELLNESS COORDINATOR AND STEAM RESOURCE TEACHER San Diego Unified School District 25 D E C E M B E R 2 017 / J A N U A R Y 2 018