Teacher Todd Willis honored for garden‑based instruction

The Mississippi State Board of Education on May 16 presented a recognition to Todd Willis, a teacher at Coldwater Elementary School in Tate County, for his work integrating garden‑ and farm‑based projects into classroom instruction.

Dean Cook introduced Willis as the board recognition for May and described the award program administered by the Program for Research and Evaluation for Public Schools (PREPS). The presentation highlighted Willis's work with a school garden, a farmer's market project, a school vineyard and livestock projects, along with student productions such as videos with QR codes for parents and a student news program.

Willis accepted the recognition and thanked colleagues, administrators and his family while describing classroom activities ranging from seed‑packets and nature‑trail research to daily student roles such as anchors for a school weather segment. "I can't do this alone; I've had administrators that have been so supportive," Willis said during his remarks.

The department noted Willis has engaged in professional associations and received awards and grants described in the recognition remarks. The board applauded Willis and the third graders present.