The Wall Street Journal recently shared an article titled “It’s Never Too Late,” referring to how the “multiple cognitive peaks throughout our lives, and the talents and passions that we have to offer can emerge across a range of personal circumstances.” Such is the case for Larry Shortell, special education teacher at Explorations Charter School in Winstead, CT.

After serving in the US Navy, Larry became a SCUBA diving instructor, then earned a CDA Certification and worked in a daycare while earning his B.S. in Special Education at the University of Southern Florida. Next, he completed an MS in Education from Cambridge College and earned a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate and taught in Laos. Teaching has since taken him to classrooms in Florida, Hawaii, Alaska and, now, to the island of Bonaire as a Fund for Teachers Fellow.

Under the guidance of a university professor who specializes in ichthyology and the marine environment, Larry leaves next week to conduct in-depth, underwater research documenting the cruise industry’s impact on climate change. He will then use his findings to create science curriculum for special education and Adventure Education students, as well as members of the school’s Exotic, Endangered, or Extinct Animals Club and Environmental Concerns Club.

“I am a high school special education teacher (grades 9-12) in a school whose mission is to cultivates a positive attitude toward life-long learning in an experiential, non-traditional setting,” said Larry. “This fellowship will help me create multi-sensory, high interest learning for special and regular education students, as well as a mixture of students in the clubs that I lead. This approach should level the playing field for the special education students while simultaneously engaging their more advanced peers.”

Just as the article suggests, Larry designed his fellowship to expand upon his 20-year career as a special education teacher and also his passion for underwater conservation. Four years ago, the cruise ship industry descended upon Bonaire, just as the Council of International Educational Exchange’s research station closed. Larry plans to generate data that bridge resulting gaps in Bonaire’s sustainability model and establish protocols for the other Caribbean island’s reef systems.

Back at school, his impacts are geared toward modeling for students an understanding of education and life-long learning that involves the synthesis of experiences and knowledge.

“I want my students to understand that everything we learn and do in life can be used to construct a world view that incorporates balance and wonder,” said Larry. “I want them to see that effort and education can lead to adventures unimagined when we begin on a path of exploration.”

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Larry is the author of Summers Off: The Worldwide  Adventures of a School Teacher and Summers On: The Global Exploration of an Educator. You can also enjoy his nature photography here.

Ed learning procedure to help unresponsive diver.

As we watched Shark Week from the safety of our sofas, FFT Fellow Edwin Yoo (Dorchester, MA) chose to get a little closer to the action. He is currently conducting field research on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System in conjunction with Project AWARE, an initiative taking action to create change for the ocean and communities that depend on it. In Utila, Honduras, he is performing citizen science data collection for coral reef health to develop case studies based on theoretical chemical and biological principles associated with diving.

Codman Academy Charter Public School students from Boston’s south side ALL enroll in four-year colleges, despite entering ninth grade two or more years below reading level. Fifty percent of these students sit in Ed’s chemistry and biology courses. Combine a Caribbean heritage shared by the majority of his students with project based learning and the school’s nearby saltwater marshes and Ed’s fellowship hits a sweet spot of engagement.

“I designed this experience around global climate change and how that impacts the biochemistry of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system (i.e. effect of temperature on O2 solubility, the effect of increasing concentration of CO2 on acidic levels of oceans that negatively impacts marine life) that protects the coastal cities and communities in the Caribbean Islands and Central America,” said Ed. “The narrative of this abstract chemistry theory becomes more deeply personal as it is an issue that is extremely critical to the families of my students who have connections to this region.”

Ed’s new case studies will support the ecology portion of his biology curriculum, specifically on topics of coral bleaching, sustainable fishing, climate change and invasive species. He is also earning his Divemaster certification that requires familiarity with a hyperbaric chamber used for decompression illness, information also applicable in Chemistry classes. Ed’s long term goal is to offer Codman students “Discover SCUBA” classes at the Dorchester YMCA pool.

“My certification will allow me to support Codman’s Wellness Program, in addition to the sciences,” said Ed. “As a Divemaster, I will be certified to teach snorkeling and introduce SCUBA in a pool setting, providing access to experiences not currently offered in the school and community. SCUBA and snorkeling combine medicine, engineering, marine biology, and chemistry into a single water sport activity. Without professional licensure and training made possible through this fellowship, my students would not likely have any exposure to potential career paths related to marine conservation, medical health industry, and engineering.”

Follow Ed’s learning on Instagram @educationalontogeny. And to get in the mood for Shark Week, enjoy this playlist provided by Discovery Channel.