Beyond the Classroom

by Sally Zimmermann

I know many of my students are busy with jobs and families, but I like to encourage them that their time at Montgomery College should be more than just checking off graduation requirements. Their MC experience will be what they make of it, and they should try new things. I send them a welcome e-mail before class starts that talks about my expectations for my math class. The e-mail also encourages them to learn from each other and try out a lecture or two or a club at the college. Usually during the semester there will be a few lectures or movies that I want to especially encourage, and I’ll offer bonus points to those who attend.

Since I want my students to be involved outside the classroom, I try to be as well. I shared my passion for gardening and the local food movement as part of the adjunct faculty lecture series on February 23^rd in the Goldenrod building on the Germantown campus. The audience was a mix from both the Germantown and Rockville campuses. About half were students and half were faculty and staff – a unique and friendly situation. I discussed what to look for in local, sustainable food, its benefits, and seven ways to obtain it. I included some stories from my personal experiences. Together, we shared our thoughts on local food and brainstormed ideas for MC. A student suggested a local food club, which I agreed would be a great idea. Some of the other popular ideas were local food in our cafeteria and a community garden and weekly farmers’ market, both on campus. The market could be run by students who were paid with “food credits.” For all of the ideas, it was clear that each campus wanted their own. If you are interested in the details of my talk, how to find local, sustainable food, or don’t know the benefits of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share, you are welcome to view my PowerPoint presentation on my website: www.montgomerycollege.edu/~szimmerman

In summary, I’d like my students to think a broad educational experience is important because you never know where life will take you. I look at myself and my friends and see how our paths have often changed from what we expected at college graduation. In my own case, I’ve been a computer programmer for IBM, a stay-at-home mom with various volunteer jobs, a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools, and an adjunct math professor at the Germantown campus for five years. About three years ago, I teamed up with some friends to start Nourishing Connections Food Club. The club aims to support local families and farmers with direct farm-to-consumer sales. It is constantly growing and now has over 100 families in three chapters from Frederick to Silver Spring. My food club experiences have taught me the importance of local, sustainable food. They have also led to some interesting math problems and tasty treats for my students.