Inspiring young minds: Plan Hillsborough at the Great American Teach-In

The Great American Teach-In (GATI) is an annual event that unites professionals from diverse industries with local students, offering them a chance to explore real-world careers and ideas in a fun, engaging way. This year, the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) participated in the event with interactive lessons designed to connect classroom concepts to the world around us.

Exploring Air Quality at Pierce Middle School

At Pierce Middle School, the TPO team delivered a hands-on lesson about air quality, linking transportation planning to environmental impact. Students were introduced to the Air Quality Index (AQI) and learned how transportation choices affect the air we breathe. Through engaging activities, they explored the factors influencing air quality, discovered how data are collected, and even analyzed real-time AQI data from the Tampa Bay region.

The lesson went beyond awareness—it inspired action. Students were encouraged to adopt eco-friendly habits such as using greener transportation options, conserving energy, and supporting local sustainability initiatives. By connecting transportation to everyday life, the session showcased how small, thoughtful actions can make a big difference in our communities. Who knows? Perhaps the next air quality scientist or transportation planner was inspired that day!

Presented by Wyatt Burttschell, Planner II, and Jocelyn Daniels, USF Fellow, Hillsborough TPO.

Planning with Purpose at Rampello K-8 and Schmidt Elementary

Hillsborough Planning Commission Executive Director Melissa Zornitta brought a creative spin to planning concepts during her visits to Schmidt Elementary and Rampello K-8. Students learned about categorizing land uses on maps using color and explored why certain land uses—like homes, schools, or businesses—work better close to neighborhoods, while others, like factories or airports, should be farther away.

Meanwhile, Strategic Planning and Policy Manager Melissa Dickens had a blast discussing community design with Rampello’s fourth-grade students. The young planners dreamed up imaginative communities where they could walk to fast-food restaurants and water parks—or even get around using zip lines instead of cars!

By linking planning and transportation concepts to creative, real-world ideas, the Plan Hillsborough team helped students see how their environment is shaped and inspired them to imagine a more connected, sustainable future. Whether exploring the science of clean air or designing the neighborhoods of tomorrow, these experiences sparked curiosity, creativity and the possibility of future careers in planning and transportation.