Building More Than Barns at Gorzycki Middle School
Crockett High School students stand with their teacher, Mr. Bugge, before the barn build begins.
Every year, the Bright Green Future Grants Program receives dozens of inspiring applications from schools working to connect students with nature, instill lifelong sustainability habits, and contribute to a greener Austin — and each year, we continue to be amazed by the creativity, passion, and determination of local educators. One standout example this year came from Joelle Don de'Ville, a Principles of Agriculture teacher at Gorzycki Middle School.
At Gorzycki, students aren’t just reading about agriculture — they’re living it. With the help of previous Bright Green Future Grants, the school has built a small-scale working ranch, complete with goats and chickens. This hands-on environment gives students a unique opportunity to explore lifecycles, animal care, communication, and teamwork in a real-world setting. This year, Joelle sought to expand the vision by bringing sheep to the campus through the “It Begins with Ewe” project.
Top: Gorzycki’s goats watch the barn building process. Bottom: Crockett students begin the build.
“The new sheep will continue Gorzycki Middle School’s heritage and legacy as a school that embraces, supports, and promotes sustainable agriculture in an urban setting,” Joelle shared. “While working with the sheep, students will learn the precious skill of cooperation. They will quickly find out that they can’t handle everything on their own and need to work with others.”
With funding from this year’s grant, Gorzycki partnered with the construction program at Crockett High School to design and build a barn to house the sheep. During a recent visit to the campus, we had the opportunity to see Crockett students hard at work under the guidance of their construction instructor, Colin Bugge.
“Involving Crockett Construction makes the project truly a community endeavor,” said Colin. “Students organize themselves, choose appropriate tools and materials, and apply their construction skills.”
The Crockett students were an impressive team — communicating effectively, checking each other’s progress, and tackling challenges together. With Colin’s mentorship, they performed like a seasoned professional crew.
Top (left to right): A student uses an electric hand saw on a structural beam; Mr. Bugge shows a student where to add screws on the outside of the barn. Bottom: Students discuss ideas for how to accomplish the build.
But the collaboration between Gorzycki and Crockett is more than just a construction project — it’s a model for experiential learning that empowers students to take ownership of their education, contribute meaningfully to their community, and think deeply about their future. Crockett student Hayden Kendall shared, “The best part is the feeling of accomplishing something. The pride of being able to do something with my hands, look at it, and be like, ‘Hey! I did that.’”
His classmate, Tristan Ontiveros, added, “I feel great helping out the younger generations so they have a better future.”
For Marcos Aguayo, another Crockett student who works in construction with his family during the summers, the project stirred memories of his own middle school experience. “It would have been great to experience animals, talk about them, and learn about them,” he said.
By mentoring students with patience and purpose, Colin Bugge is helping them build more than a barn — they’re building confidence, community, and a future they can be proud of. “Colin has brought this program a long way,” said Homer Cox, a CTE Specialist at the district. Crockett’s construction program builds items for schools across the district, Callahan's General Store, and other special projects as they arise.
For Colin, he hopes projects like this will help the students more easily find careers in their field. “I hope that this grows awareness of the talents and capabilities of my students,” he shared. “I hope that the community recognizes Crockett as an innovative school with a variety of stellar career-oriented programs.”
There was one person on-site who couldn’t be happier with their work: Joelle Don de'Ville. “Encouraging student leadership in sustainability is key. Students can lead projects, which give them the chance to take action and advocate for the environment in their communities.”
Left: Students pose on the nearly finished barn. Right: Joelle and Colin smile in front of the completed barn.
You can learn more about the Crockett Construction Technology program on their website. Find more information on the Bright Green Future Grants Program. Applications open at the start of the school year.