My Teaching Philosophy

Agricultural education is designed to provide students with the competencies needed to make them aware of and prepared for the world of work. A total agricultural education program should prepare students for higher education and/or employment through technical instruction, experiential education, and leadership development.  The complete program encompasses three main components:  classroom and laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and the FFA.

             The first component of the complete agricultural education program is classroom and laboratory instruction.  In the classroom, students learn the concepts and theories of animal science, horticulture, plant science, food science, agricultural mechanics, wildlife science, and environmental studies.  Students can apply the concepts and theories learned in the laboratory , and can be carry them through to their application. Here, students are taught “hands-on" skills that ensure that the skills learned are practical, usable, and have future application.

The second component of a complete program is supervised agricultural experience (SAE) where students can put to use the skills learned in the classroom and laboratory instruction into a real-life situation.  Students learn on the job skills that can be helpful when applying for jobs.  A student’s SAE can range from home improvement projects to running their own business or a cooperative work experience in production agriculture or agribusiness.

            The third component of the complete agricultural program is the FFA organization which is an integral, intracurricular element. The FFA organization provides opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. They can take a leadership class with in their agricultural program or participate in FFA conferences with members from other chapters.  The FFA also provides a way to award students for their hard work.  Students are required to keep a record book of their SAE which can be submitted into a record book contest, used to earn a proficiency award, or to help achieve the degrees with in the FFA.  Students also need compete in Career Development Events (CDE) centered around their SAE or career interests at the local, state, and national levels.

             A complete agricultural education program follows the three circle model of classroom and laboratory instruction, supervised agriculture experience, and the FFA.  Each component is equally important and needs to be addressed for the complete program to be successful and support student achievement.   The strength of the program lies in the flexibility and dedication of teachers whose philosophy is, “We don’t just teach agriculture, we teach students.”