What do you love most about being an ag teacher?  It’s never boring. We're always doing something new and exciting. What I truly love the most are my students. I love seeing those lightbulb moments. Seeing students develop and become passionate about something is why I teach. I enjoy getting to know my students better and making connections with them. They can be sassy at times, but are so kind and fun! 

 What is your biggest challenge as an ag teacher?  Keeping track of all of the craziness! Put everything in your Google Calendar.  This includes your personal life. Send calendar invites for everything. Find time for yourself. Make sure that your hobbies are still your hobbies and not something you use to enjoy.   I asked my students this question and they said, “Getting us to stop talking. We don’t mean to be rude but we are.” 

What have you learned thus far in your teaching career that you wish you would have known when you first began teaching?  It takes time to reach your goals, big or small. It takes time to build that classroom community. It takes time to start up something new in your program. Patience, hard-work, and a good support system are important when striving for success. 

What advice would you give a novice teacher entering this profession now?  Make time for things that are important. Make a list and prioritize. Be a sponge, absorb everything you can and learn from veteran teachers. Academics are important, but so is focusing on building your students up to become noble people. Try to be a well-rounded role model, students pick up on your behaviors and will start acting like you (they will even steal your punchlines). 

What personal qualities or abilities do you think are important to being successful in this profession?  The ability to be adaptable, flexible, organized, and empathetic. Important qualities include being driven, committed, self-motivated, structured, open-minded, and having thick skin.

What most prepared you for being an agriculture educator?  Helping my family run multiple businesses and past jobs prepared me for all of the “extras” that an ag teacher does. I learned how to manage people and environments, navigate situations, manage different daily tasks, keep accurate and detailed records, financial management, problem-solving, how to interact with different people, build relationships and connections and so on. In addition, student teaching. Take on as much as you can at your placement site when you feel ready. Really get the feel for what you will be doing as a full-time teacher. Give yourself the opportunity to be exposed to as many situations as possible. Lastly, my past educators, coaches, and mentors whom I strive to live up to. 

If you could relive one of your most memorable days as a teacher, which day would it be and why?  One of my most memorable days was when I “set the fire alarm off” making quesadillas in class. There was a planned fire drill during biology. We were completing a demo on explicit direction sets, during the first weeks of school. The kids had to tell me how to make a quesadilla (like the pb&j demo). We finally got the quesadilla cooking and the fire drill began. The students were freaking out with excitement thinking it was the “smoke” from our demo setting the alarm off. They proceeded to tell the whole school. They still believe it was us and not a drill. Now I am just concerned about why they think I’m “cool” for setting off the fire alarm.  Our first veggies crop contest was a memorable day. It was a small win but nonetheless, a win. They hadn’t practiced once before the contest, they were just going to see what it was about. They won second high team. It was awesome to see how excited the students were. They felt a sense of accomplishment, were excited, and proud. I just thought to myself “this is my why.”

Describe ag teaching in one to two words.  So many words come to mind. When I I asked my kids this question, they said, “organized chaos.” They explained their answer in a positive way, so hopefully that’s good.