Seed Your Future selects 2026 Seed to STEM Cohort

Seed Your Future announced the selection of its 2026 Seed to STEM cohort, an elite group of high school floral design and horticulture educators from across the United States chosen to participate in an immersive, industry-focused professional development experience at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

The Seed to STEM program is a professional development initiative designed to equip educators with the tools, industry connections and real-world experiences needed to bring horticulture career pathways to life in their classrooms. Through immersive learning, industry engagement and curriculum support, participants gain a deeper understanding of the breadth of opportunities within the horticulture industry.

Why high school floral and horticulture teachers?

Seed Your Future is strategically focusing on high school floral and horticulture teachers because they already have foundational awareness of the industry, and the nonprofit organization wants to ensure they are equipped with the resources and insights needed to expand career conversations with their students.

"These educators are often the first to introduce students to plant-based careers – yet many lack direct exposure to the full scope of the modern horticulture industry," Seed Your Future said.

By investing in 30 thirty teachers, Seed Your Future is able to:

• Expand career exposure beyond traditional perceptions of horticulture, highlighting roles in science, technology, business, sustainability and design
• Reach students early, when they are exploring post-secondary education and career options
• Create scalable impact, as each educator engages hundreds of students annually
• Bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring classroom learning aligns with workforce needs

"There's so much innovation and opportunity in this space that most students never get exposure to," said Broch Martindale, board president of Seed Your Future, who attended the 2025 program. "Being part of Seed to STEM was a great reminder of how powerful it is to connect educators with what's really happening in the green industry."

"Horticulture touches every aspect of our lives — from the food we eat to the environments we live in — yet many students are unaware of the diverse and meaningful careers available," said Jazmin Albarran, executive director of Seed Your Future. "By empowering high school educators with industry knowledge and resources, we are creating a ripple effect that inspires the next generation of horticulture professionals."

An immersive, industry-driven experience

The 2026 Seed to STEM cohort will participate in a series of virtual learning sessions alongside firsthand site visits to horticulture operations.

Educators will spend a day at Longwood Gardens exploring careers in public horticulture, tour the greenhouse operations at Lucas Greenhouses and Overdevest Nurseries, visit a golf course to learn about professional turf management, stop at DVFlora for an in-depth look at the floral supply chain, and tour North Creek Nurseries to see large-scale nursery production in action.

"Together, these experiences are designed to give educators a panoramic view of the horticulture industry — one they can bring back directly to their students as real, concrete examples of where a passion for plants can lead," Seed Your Future said.

Peek into the 2026 cohort: 30 educators from across the country

The 2026 Seed to STEM cohort represents a diverse group of educators committed to enhancing student awareness of horticulture and floriculture careers. They include:

Megan Brundrett, Dan Dipert Career & Technical Center, Arlington ISD, Texas: With 20 years of professional floral design experience and 12 years in the classroom, Brundrett holds her certified floral designer and American Institute of Floral Design certifications, earned in 2025. She applied because "high-quality professional development specifically rooted in floral design and horticulture is often limited and costly, making it difficult for districts to provide consistent access. Opportunities such as this program are invaluable in supporting educators and strengthening student outcomes."

Mason Jones, Edmond Public Schools, Edmond, Oklahoma: A 13-year veteran teacher whose courses include horticulture, landscape & nursery production and greenhouse management & floral design, Jones is a 2023 National FFA Top 10 Model of Excellence Finalist. With a new greenhouse management & floral design course launching in the 2026–2027 school year, he applied to build an engaging, inquiry-based curriculum grounded in real industry experience.

Taleek Harlee, Purnell Swett High School, Lumberton, North Carolina: Teaching horticulture and serving as a commissioner on the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission, Harlee applied because this training will "give me real, classroom-ready tools to connect students with meaningful career pathways in the green industry." His school serves a large population of students who may not otherwise encounter horticulture as a viable profession.

Michael Bak, Wyandotte Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte, Michigan: A CTE botany, floral design and nursery landscape educator, Bak applied to be in the cohort "to provide high-quality, hands-on learning experiences that prepare students to earn industry certifications and enter the workforce successfully upon graduating high school."

Through the program, educators will:

• Integrate horticulture career pathways into their curriculum
• Develop classroom and community-based career exploration activities
• Build lasting partnerships with industry professionals
• Participate in site visits and immersive experiences

Since its inception, Seed to STEM has demonstrated measurable impact, with participating teachers reporting increased confidence in teaching horticulture careers and expanded student engagement through career-focused programming.

Looking ahead, industry leaders like Martindale see the program's growth as critical to the sector's future.

"I'm especially excited about the 2026 cohort expanding that reach and helping more teachers bring real-world relevance back to their classrooms," he said. "Programs like this don't just support educators — they help build awareness and passion for an industry that truly needs the next generation."