BUDA — When high school students ponder their fine arts credit, they may think of traditional options, such as art sculpture, band or choir, but Johnson High School teachers Tiffany Stratton and Amanda Gregory have a more interesting idea: floral design.
Students often find themselves in the class by accident, said Gregory, as she recalls first days of school, where students tell her, “Um, I didn’t sign up for this class,” but that’s okay, replies the teacher, as both she and Stratton didn’t picture themselves in that class either.
Johnson High School floral design teachers Amanda Greogry, left, and Tiffany Stratton, right, show off their classes recent floral projects with newly-certified Olivia Knox.
A former kindergarten teacher in the district, Stratton was approached when JHS was hiring for its first school year: “The administration, they had reached out and were like, ‘Hey, we’re hiring,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, I teach 5-year-olds. I’m really not interested in teaching 15-year-olds,’” but she accepted the challenge and has loved it ever since.
Gregory, also a former kindergarten teacher, joined the team shortly after, claiming that it was a “dream job.”
The floral design class is considered part of the agricultural department in the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program in the district, which offers courses to aid students for life after high school, whether that be career ready or college ready, explained Stratton.
“We give students the opportunity to learn more about florals, like flowers and floral design and what all goes into the floral industry. So, what drives the industry, like when flowers are needed, [such as] weddings, funerals, just sympathy or any kind of arrangement that you would need flowers for,” Stratton said.
The traditional pathway for the CTE agricultural pathway is principles of agriculture, floral design, advanced floral design and then, a practicum with a local florist; however, students can complete the route later if they take floral design as a freshman and want to go back to take principles of agriculture for the pathway.
Units in the class may surprise students, said the teachers, as topics of focus include color theory, funerals and sympathy.
“Sympathy is kind of an interesting thing to talk to kids about and some of them have never been to a funeral or never been to a wedding. So, that’s a really cool opportunity to get to talk about things they’ve never experienced before and look into it,” Stratton explained.
For senior Cohen Graning, the entire class was a surprise: “I joined floral design because a bunch of my football buddies were like, ‘Oh, we’re all seniors, so we have to add a class and floral design sounds kind of fun.’ It [is actually] some really interesting stuff. It’s just something I’ve never done before.”
Gavin Perez, a sophomore, shared a similar sentiment, stating that it has been an opportunity to do something fun with his friends. His mother also loves the projects he brings home, he beamed.
Because a large portion of the class is hands-on, an aspect that prompted senior Abigail Hunt to take a second course in the subject, the teachers allow the students to use their creativity to create a dream wedding.
“The funny part is how blown away they are by the cost. They’re like, ‘Oh, I’m not having flowers at my wedding. This is too expensive,’” Gregory said, laughing.
Students also create a funeral display for a cartoon character of their choosing, where they use the colors of the character to choose flowers.
The Johnson High School floral design program offers creative opportunities for students seeking a non-traditional fine arts credit. From left, Abigail Hunt, Olivia Knox, floral design teacher Amanda Gregory, floral design teacher and head cheer coach Tiffany Stratton, Cohen Graning and Gavin Perez pose for a photo.
In these projects, students learn about seasonal availability, budget and cost, people-skills and possible careers prior to taking a certification test.
The certification is through the Texas State Floral Association and requires students to take a 100-question examination, prompting answers of identification, what wire they would use in a corsage or a boutonniere and more.
Graning, Perez and Hunt received their certifications, along with junior Olivia Knox, who shared that her mother works in florals, so it’s been a chance to bond with her.
The goal of the course is not only to pass this certification, but to prepare students for a future in the floral industry: “Maybe this isn’t what they want to do for their career, but it's a good skill for them to have a job while they’re in college or while they’re pursuing other things,” said Stratton.
Additionally, it’s also another tool in their toolbelt, as the teachers shared that, because prom just happened, many students made their own bouquets for the event.
Throughout the semester, Stratton and Gregory make it a point to give back to the community, whether that be through a subscription service residents can sign up for or aiding the school district in floral arrangements for events and fundraisers.
For community members wanting to support the program, Stratton emphasized that the subscription service the class opens up at the beginning of the year would be key: “It covers the cost of what it costs us to make the arrangement. It also gives us a little extra money, so that our kids can do a couple extra hands-on things beyond the budget that the school gives us.”
The class has grown tremendously since the school opened, said Stratton. In her first year, there were only four students in her advanced floral design class and this year, there are 120. Furthermore, the subscription service, which served 30 people its inaugural year, now has more than 130 signups.
Along with JHS, Lehman and Hays high schools both offer the program. For more information on the class and how to sign up, students should speak to a campus counselor.
“If you love doing art and you love flowers, this is the perfect class. We do art with flowers,” Gregory concluded.
To keep up with the JHS floral design class, follow the JHS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JhsJags, where the CTE class posts its projects, subscription service and requests for donations, if needed.
