Project History: Beyond Sterling Ranch was originally started as a joint project between Vanderbilt University and the planned community of Sterling Ranch. The partnership between these two organizations has been going on since before the construction of Sterling Ranch began in 2016. Each year, Vanderbilt sends students and faculty to the planned community to work on various projects. Beyond Sterling Ranch was first developed in 2019 as one of these projects and has continued since then.

Goals of the Project: The project aims to spread awareness around environmentalism, particularly within the Nashville community and Sterling Ranch community. Students should be able to use this website to build their knowledge about the sustainable practices around them. Teachers should be able to use the materials on this website to supplement their lessons on sustainability as well.

Meet the Team:

Dr. Claire Smrekar

Claire Smrekar is Associate Professor of Public Policy and Education at Vanderbilt University. Smrekar earned her doctorate in Education Policy at Stanford University in 1991. She conducts qualitative research studies related to the social context of education and public policy, with specific focus on the impact of desegregation plans and choice policies on families, schools, and neighborhoods. She is currently studying the effects of private school markets and demographic trends on school voucher plans. Professor Smrekar’s work has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Danforth Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the W.T. Grant Foundation, and Peabody College.

Smrekar is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, and reports. She is the author of three books: The Impact of School Choice and Community: In the Interest of Families and Schools (1996), State University of New York (SUNY) Press; School Choice in Urban America: Magnet Schools and the Pursuit of Equity (1999), Teachers College Press; and From the Courtroom to the Classroom: The Shifting Landscape of School Desegregation (2009), Harvard Education Press.

Smrekar’s research has been featured in multiple national newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, and The Los Angles Times. In 2002, Professor Smrekar was featured on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” in a segment that highlighted her research related to student achievement in Department of Defense-managed schools.

Shelby Wohlschlaeger

Shelby Wohlschlaeger is a senior at Vanderbilt University majoring in Elementary Education and Human & Organizational Development. She is passionate about environmentalism and believes in the importance of teaching young students about environmental issues in order to spark their interest in the topic.

Seetha Natesan

Seetha is currently a Sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in Human & Organizational Development and Psychology. She plans on pursuing a fifth year masters degree in Secondary Education. She is passionate about tailoring curriculums to students’ environments so that their educational experience is personalized and beneficial to their well-being.

Justin Carway

Justin Carway is a Sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in Educational Studies and Computer Science, with a minor in Economics. He is passionate about making schools more sustainable, currently serving as the president of the Green Fund at Vanderbilt University.