Education Grant WinnerCarmen Martinez

Carmen Martinez works with Pre-K students at Fisher Elementary in Northside ISD, where she believes learning should be hands-on, joyful, and rooted in real-life experiences. After transitioning from teaching fifth grade to working with the district’s youngest learners, she noticed how limited some students’ access was to outdoor spaces and nature. Carmen set out to change that—wanting her students to feel the soil in their hands, see growth happen in real time, and experience learning beyond a small indoor cup.

That vision took shape through Growing Minds, Growing Gardens, a grant-funded project that transformed gardening into a living classroom. With Firstmark Foundation support, Carmen created an outdoor gardening space using raised containers, soil, seeds, and gardening tools, allowing students to plant, water, and observe flowers and vegetables growing over time. The project weaves together science, literacy, math, and social-emotional learning as students journal about their plants, learn life cycles, measure growth, and share responsibility for daily care routines. It also invites families into the learning through a planned garden celebration that showcases students’ work.

For Carmen’s students, the garden has become a place of discovery and pride. Spending time outdoors multiple times a week, children learn patience, teamwork, and responsibility while building foundational academic skills. More than anything, the project nurtures curiosity and confidence—helping young learners see themselves as capable caretakers of the world around them, growing right alongside the seeds they plant.