JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Fort Sam Houston Elementary School employees and Fort Sam Houston Independent School District school board members visited U.S. Army Environmental Command headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Sept. 8 to recognize the unit for its support of the elementary school for the 2020-2021 school year.
The U.S. Army Environmental Command earned the Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence award for Outstanding Community Partnership K12 for their support to military children through their partnership with the elementary school.
“We feel lucky to have the support of our community for our school. Some organizations, like the U.S. Army Environmental Command, go out of their way to find ways to engage the children,” said Dr. Joseph Cerna, Fort Sam Houston Elementary School principal.
That command’s partnership began in 2011 as part of the Adopt-a-School program. The nomination highlighted the latest event, a nature walk, held May 6.
“Activities like these give our scientists the opportunity to share with students their knowledge of the environmental sciences and a genuine love of lifelong discovery,” said Col. Alicia M. Masson USAEC commander.
At the Salado Creek Park at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston in May, USAEC employees hosted seven hands-on learning stations about geology, archaeology, entomology, recycling, and wildlife difference and similarities, such as skins and skulls and horns and antlers. More than 130 students rotated through the stations to hear Army employees share about their field of work and passion.
The Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award™ recognizes successful partnerships and projects that ultimately benefit military-connected children.
Beginning in 2004, the Lt. Gen. H. G. “Pete” Taylor awards have been an opportunity to recognize individual and community partnerships formed between military installations and school districts that serve military-connected children. Winners reflect Taylor’s belief that “goodness starts at the local level.”