JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Leaders from the U.S. Army Environmental Command and Fort Sam Houston Independent School District signed a charter and agreement in a Fort Sam Houston Elementary School fifth-grade classroom Oct. 3 to continue their Adopt-A-School Program partnership, which began in 2011.
Dr. Gary Bates, FSHISD superintendent, and Col. Isaac Manigault, commander of the U.S. Army Environmental Command, officially signed the partnership agreement kicking off the command’s participation in and support of elementary school activities for the next two years.
The school’s principal, Dr. Joseph Cerna, and Manigault also signed a renewal of the official charter for the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Adopt-A-School Program partnership.
The official event was observed by Marlo Tipton’s fifth-grade class, who expressed their gratitude for the command’s previous support and looked forward to future activities.
The program and cooperative agreement is designed to improve the citizenship and learning experiences of the children at the elementary school. U.S. Army Environmental Command employees share their passion for lifelong learning and information about their careers with the children to encourage them to pursue studies and possibly careers in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, higher education later in life.
Throughout the year, the school and U.S. Army Environmental Command agree on activities of benefit to the children that AEC employees can support by sharing their experiences and expertise.
Whether it is “Read Across America Day” or the kindergarteners’ nature field trip to Salado Park, Army employees share their knowledge and passion with the elementary school children to encourage them to help take care of the environment and stay in school pursuing further education and careers in STEM fields.
The students reciprocate by sharing what they are passionate about including performing an occasional holiday concert at the USAEC building and a million and one questions during career day at the school.