Nicolette Cusate's 2023 NAAE IDEAP FAST Experience
Nicolette Cusate, Agricultural and Extension Education senior currently student teaching at Northwestern Senior High School, was granted the opportunity to attend the 2023 NAEE FAST - Creating an Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible Progam. Nicolette, along with 19 other pre-service agricultural educators were chosen to travel to Lexington, Kentucky for this experience from March 1st to the 3rd.
During her time in Kentucky, she had the opportunity to tour the Kentucky School for the Deaf and meet some of the students as well as the advisor. Nicollete says, "It was so inspiring to see the students that go there and hear their stories and how FFA and ag ed has impacted their lives." While at the school the students taught Nicolette and the others how to sign the alphabet. They communicated with students through interpreters. "I wish everyone in our cohort could go there and see their program, it is truly one of a kind and super impactful to experience in person."
She was also able to tour Carter G. Woodson Academy which has an FFA program of 96% African American male scholars who are admitted by a lottery system. This FFA chapter is also integrated with a Jr. MANRRS chapter through the University of Kentucky. Unfortunately due to a tornado warning Nicolette was not able to visit the school but did have a chance to meet their advisor in person and scholars on zoom. "We asked them questions about what it is like to be a minority in FFA and about their motivations to join and stay in the organization. They stayed
positive and were so kind to us, even though the day did not end up going as planned."
These are some highlights from Nicolette's trip so be sure to look at her blog for some more details about her experience.
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