Islands in the stream – that is what we are……Are we?

Islands in the stream – that is what we are……Are we?
By: Ben Meyer 

Ben Meyer, Western Region LPS Specialist at National FFA Organization

“Where’s the Ag classroom” asks a visitor to the school.  “Around back of the school, keep going past the gym and you’ll see it towards the back campus” answers the front desk receptionist.  How common is this response?  How applicable is this to the Ag shops, Ag classrooms, and Ag buildings that you know?  More importantly, how often do we in agricultural education talk about our programs in this light?   There’s nothing wrong with “being around back” in terms of the physical location of our programs.  Being located in a building at the back or separated from the main school allows for some great hands-on learning.  Operating a loud shop environment, demonstration lessons with bovine reproductive tracts, and any number teaching experiences work well “around back” as these might not go over well sandwiched in-between the English and math departments in the main school building.

But what happens when we as agricultural education professionals embody this notion of separation from the main building?  Are Ag educators easily disconnected from the overall school environment?  Worse yet, are Ag educators purposely removing themselves from the professional school setting?  I hope not and I encourage new Ag educators and pre-service teachers to make a conscious effort to connect and stay connected in their school and teaching community.

Agricultural education as a program is a leader in experiential learning, student engagement, and one of the programs that students most look forward to at enrollment time.  Undoubtedly, these are laurels we want to build upon. But we need to be aware of our place within the overall school environment.  How can Ag educators take the best qualities of their programs and leverage these to be a more effective and integrated part of the school culture?

One way is through mentorship.  We already know the value of a great Ag teacher mentor.  Being paired with someone in your FFA district by University of Idaho or the IVATA is an immensely important part of success in Ag education.  But what about a mentor in your school?  Too often, new agricultural education professionals overlook the expertise and support that is right in front of them in their school.  Sometimes we hear anecdotes about the “toxicity” of the teachers’ lounge and some Ag educators share their “pride” of never setting foot in the “main” building except for required staff meetings and collecting mail once-in-a-while.

I challenge new agricultural education professionals to find their foothold in the school environment, check in on the teachers’ lounge, and connect with their fellow teaching peers.  Most importantly, find a mentor in your school.  This might be a fellow PTE/CTE colleague, a para-professional, or simply another teacher with whom you share a prep period.  Its important to remember that a student’s Ag education class is just one of six or seven they take each day.  Other teachers share common experiences with Ag educators and your work with the same students.  This means that challenges and triumphs can all be mutually shared with those who have walked in your shoes.  Granted, you may be the only Ag educator in your school but that doesn’t mean your experiences are exclusive. 

Get connected, don’t purposely isolate from the school environment, find a mentor or professional friend in addition to your assigned Ag education mentor, and remember that Ag education is just one part of a students’ school experience.  Be proud of the separate physical location of your Ag department but be sure not to be an isolationist as an educator.