Brother Martin faculty members Amy Peavey and Thomas Mavor participated in a panel presentation titled "Building Capacity for the Future of the Coast" at the recent "State of the Coast" Conference, held here in New Orleans sponsored by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL). This conference of over 1200 scientists, environmentalists, journalists, policymakers, and government officials "strives to provide an interdisciplinary forum to exchange timely and relevant information on the dynamic conditions of Louisiana's coastal communities, environment, and economy and to apply that information to existing and future coastal restoration and protection efforts, policies, and decision-making." Peavey's World Geography Honors students and Mavor's English I Honors students, all 8th graders, participate in a creative interdisciplinary unit that combines geography skills with relevant English research and writing skills. Using Mike Tidwell's Bayou Farewell as their anchor text, the students take several field trips and research methods to protect our coast from future degradation. Mavor and Peavey will present a longer presentation on the same topic at the upcoming National Geography Educators Conference in Columbia, South Carolina, this fall. Brother Martin High School is committed to making learning relevant, collaborative, and creative.
