Teeland students give impressive glimpse into Valley’s future

Want to know what the public schools of the not-so-distant future will look like? Drop in at Teeland Middle School. Some of the Valley’s best and brightest can show you.

A 12-member team of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders is trying to raise $12,000 to attend the international “School of the Future” design competition. Their model, which is partially underground to help insulate it from the cold and wind, is a four-story testament to education. It calls for the building to be built on a reclaimed gravel pit and focuses on the environment, community and sustainability. For example, the lower level includes state-of-the-art heating and ventilation system, a fish hatchery, hydroponic garden and other exploratory classrooms.

Well, consider us blown away. And apparently, we aren’t the only ones. Teeland’s design and concept was enough to blow away the judges at a recent Pacific Northwest Regional competition and earn a place at the international contest next month in Washington, D.C.

“The judges told me it wasn’t even close,” said Jason Gamache, an architect with McCool Carlson Green and vice-president of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International Alaska Chapter. He coordinated the statewide competition. “Washington, Oregon — we’re beating that whole corner of the nation.”

He predicts the Teeland team in D.C. is “going to blow everybody away. They are really amazing. In fact, they exceeded my expectations.”

Gamache said he loves to tell folks Outside what’s going on with sustainable design in Alaska. For instance, he said the first two schools built to sustainability standards in Alaska are both in the Mat-Su Borough — Machetanz Elementary and Su Valley High School. And the first building in the state to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certificate is the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer.

“Mat-Su Borough is one of the most progressive in terms of sustainable design,” Gamache said. “It is exciting to see that we are leaders in education and all these other things.”

We’re proud to recognize and acknowledge the hard work, dedication and academic creativity displayed by some of the Valley’s future leaders. While public education may always be viewed under a microscope of skepticism, here is proof that the Valley continues to produce some amazing young thinkers.

A hatchery in a school, for example, is an impressive leap of creativity and education.

“This simple idea of salmon in your school can open up all these ideas for things students can learn,” said Zach Neubauer, a Colony High freshman who is helping mentor his sister on the Teeland team.

If you’re as impressed as we with Teeland’s “School of the Future” effort, show it. Help the Titans show their impressive concept at the international competition. Send donations to Teeland Middle School, 2788 N. Seward Meridian Parkway, Wasilla, AK 99654. Read more about Teeland’s “School of the Future” in today’s Schools section, page B3.