Chemistry and forensics teacher George Tsepetis, MSEd ’21 has made his classroom at Bronx High School for Law and Community Service a “living laboratory”—it’s a tiny but productive hydroponic vegetable farm that brings chemistry to life for his students while providing fresh produce they can take home to their families.
Tsepetis immigrated as an infant with his parents to the U.S. from Greece in the late 60s, and when he enrolled in Stony Brook University 18 years later, he was the first in his family to attend college. After a long career in sales, he became a New York City Teaching Fellow and enrolled in Lehman’s graduate program in Science Education.
He became a teacher to change lives, he says, and the hydroponic lab, which he began building in 2022 with a $175,000 grant from the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, is one way he’s making it happen. This is his Lehman story. (Interview has been edited for length.)
What can you do with a classroom hydroponics lab?
Unlike traditional soil-based gardening, hydroponics allows for a controlled environment where students can easily observe and measure the effects of different variables on plant growth. This hands-on approach can make abstract concepts more concrete and relatable, fostering a deeper understanding of chemistry, and environmental science.
What was the origin of the project, and what have you been able to achieve?
It started from networking with members of my former Lehman cohort. The grant opportunity came up and a colleague and I both applied and ended up winning. Two years later, the lab is 90% complete, and I am still waiting for material to arrive. Never give up, never.
The outcome has been glorious—we have had eight successful harvests with close to 100 pounds of fresh greens distributed to our students and families. I will never forget the reaction of a student who had a fresh tomato for the first time in my classroom because of the plant she grew. We are now looking forward to setting up a community farmstand for future harvests.
You've continued to mentor Lehman MSEd students since you earned your degree. What keeps you connected to the College?
My education at Lehman gave me the honorable responsibility to educate the motivators, creators, and influencers who will shape the future. While I was in the master’s program, however, I remember sometimes feeling overwhelmed. The support I received from my field consultant, professors, and the Lehman staff really helped me put everything into perspective. I hope I can do the same for students now.
Are you working on any projects in addition to the hydroponics lab?
I'm working on a study with St. Barnabas Hospital and Project Eats, comparing rooftop farmed food and the food we grow hydroponically in the classroom. Ultimately, we hope to establish hydroponics in the homes of our students and local community members so they have more access to fresh produce.
What is your advice for current and future Lehman education students?
Work smart and hard.
What are three words you’d use to describe Lehman and why?
“Learn,” “Grow,” and “Use.” Lehman College empowers future educators to learn essential pedagogical skills, grow in cultural competence, and use their knowledge to foster inclusive and compassionate classrooms within the New York City Department of Education.