Kayla Stauffer is Tagged to Teach Ag! at Mount Union Area High School

Recent Penn State Agricultural & Extension Education graduate Kayla Stauffer has been hired at Mount Union Area High School in Mount Union, PA. Kayla is originally from Lancaster, PA and she graduated from Lampeter-Strasburg High School where she was actively involved in the Garden Spot FFA Chapter. She did not have her career goal set out to be an Agriculture Educator. Kayla says "I always thought that I was going to be a veterinarian, I love animals and love taking care of them. I enrolled in the Veterinary Science course at my high school and fell in love with not only veterinary medicine but the National FFA organization and all aspects of agriculture. I continued to take agriculture courses all four years of high school." Through being a part of the Agriculture Education program at Lampeter-Strasburg is where Kayla was able to learn more about her passion for agriculture and try new activities. The National Teach Ag! Essay Contest was brought to her attention and she decided to try her hand at teaching an agriculture class. She states "After teaching one period of Veterinary Science in 11th grade, I knew that I wanted to teach and knew that I specifically wanted to Teach Ag!"

After graduating high school Kayla attended the Pennsylvania State University Altoona Campus. Here she got involved in the Penn State Altoona Ag Club and Altoona Cheer-leading. At the University Park Campus Kayla became involved in the Club Cheer-leading Squad and served as a Penn State Teach Ag! Avenger. During her student teaching period she branched out and decided to travel to Boonsboro, Maryland where Kayla taught under Mrs. Quinn Cashell-Martin. She gained experience teaching Introduction to Agriculture, Power Mechanics 1 & 2, Greenhouse Management, Floral Design, and a Forestry and Soils course. 

Kayla is now eager to start her journey at Mount Union Area High School. She will be a part of a new three-teacher program. Her class schedule consists of courses including Introduction to Wood Products and Technology, Advanced Wood shop/Cabinetry, Small Gas Engines, and Agriculture Mechanics. When asking Kayla about some of her classroom goals she said "I have numerous goals that I would like to achieve throughout the next several years, but the main goal that I want to achieve is creating an incredible relationship with the special education department and finding ways to include those students in the FFA program and our agriculture courses." In addition, Kayla is excited to be teaching Agriculture Mechanics courses because she did not take any shop classes throughout her high school career, but overtime gaining more experience in the shop she has fallen in love with the content through the courses at Penn State and her student teaching experience. Kayla expresses one thing she is excited for which is to challenge herself with learning more wood working content and coming up with innovative ways to work with the other teachers by combining all of the course content and assisting each another. When asked one piece of advice she had for Ag Ed majors Kayla said "Be yourself. Don’t worry about what the rest of your cohort or the graduates before you have done or are doing, bring your own personality into the classroom and into the educator that you want to become."

The Center for Professional Personnel Development is excited to see what great learning experiences Kayla will offer to her students. Congratulations again on being hired at Mount Union Area High School, you will positively impact the Agriculture Education Program and its students. Best of luck Kayla!

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

Congratulations Lisa Boltz #psuaged19 member hired!

Congratulations Lisa Boltz! Lisa has been hired at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Georgia. Lisa is a 2019 graduate from the Agricultural and Extension Education program at Penn State. Throughout her time spent at Penn State she has been involved in Collegiate FFA at University Park as well as founded the organization at Penn State Berks, TeachAg Society, and LEAD Society.

In her senior year, Lisa had student taught at Dover Area High School in Dover, PA. She taught Large Animal Science, Small Animal Science, and Ag Engine Care. One of Lisa's exciting moments teaching was making and facilitating her first BreakOut EDU box lesson plan for her one animal science course during student teaching. Over the course of her internship she has grown in her skills and dispositions!

Getting back to her recent success, Lisa has been hired to teach Small Animal Science, Vet Tech, and Basic Agriculture Course. She will not be the sole teacher at this program as there are two others that are currently teaching at Camden County High School. A unique characteristic about the school in which she was hired is that southern school systems are frequently county school districts. Camden County High School is the only school in that county and is considered more financially efficient. She is excited to begin her new journey as she states, "I excited to engage with amazing students on my new adventure in the next chapter of my life, although I am also pretty stoked about trading in snow for the beach!"

Her advice to those currently in the Agricultural and Extension Education program and to those who are looking into it is, "Your future will be greatly shaped by your experiences during student teaching, if you have an amazing experience you are more likely to continue that experience into the next chapter of your life. Make sure you student teach with cooperating teachers that you mesh well with and can learn a lot from. Also, trust the process of Penn State Agricultural and Extension Education, they 100% have your back and your best interest in mind."

Luke Kerstetter 

Communication Team

Twitter Handle: @Luke_Kerstetter

2020 Agricultural Education Student Teacher

Congratulations Ryan Rupert, #psuaged19 member hired!

Ryan Rupert comes from Beech Creek, PA, and recently

graduated from Penn State University in May.

We love to see our student's hard work and motivation pay off - especially when they land their first jobs! Yet another member of the 2019 AEE cohort, Mr. Ryan Rupert, was recently hired by Bermudian Springs High School in York Springs, Pennsylvania. We reached out to Ryan to speak with him about this exciting new chapter in his life and see what he had to say! 

Ryan Rupert grew up on a small hobby farm in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, where he was constantly able to learn by doing, whether it be chopping wood, bailing hay, or taking care of plants and animals at the local pet and feed store. Throughout high school, he was active in his home FFA chapter up to Ryan's graduation this past May, he's taken numerous opportunities to get involved both inside and outside of Penn State, including serving as the secretary and historian of Penn State Altoona's Ag Club and as a lion ambassador, working as the first TA for ANSC 201, and being an active member in LEAD Society. Ryan holds professional affiliations with Alpha Tau Alpha, the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators, and the Association of Career and Technical Educators. 

Ryan Rupert (Middle) with several students from 

Greenwood High School.

In his new position as an Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor at Bermudian Springs High School, Ryan will have the opportunity to teach alongside Ms. Dianna Jarema. "I think it's cool that Dianna and I both student-taught at Greenwood." We asked Ryan about something that he's excited for within Bermudian Springs' agricultural program, and he shared that he was excited to be teaching at a place that he thinks he'll fit in so well: "To be honest, I didn't know much about the program. I just knew Mrs. Jarema and felt she would be a perfect fit! I hope to teach some awesome students and support the community as I grow to learn more about Bermudian Springs' Ag Ed." Ryan will get the opportunity to teach several courses, including Plant Science, Agribusiness, and the one he's looking forward to the most: Greenhouse Management. 

Ryan shares that his Penn State degree has prepared him well for his new position. "Penn State's AEE program has really been amazing at building a family-like network for Ag teachers." He continues, saying that he's thankful to have such a great support system to head into as he takes on his first job, and that the connections he's been able to make will be invaluable in the years to come. 

From L to R: Mr. Michael Clark, Ryan Rupert, 

and Ms. Krista Pontius.

We asked if he has anyone that he would like to recognize, and Ryan says, "[I'm thankful for] Michael Clark and Krista Pontius, my cooperating teachers, and the faculty and staff of Penn State Teach Ag." Mr. Clark and Ms. Pontius have coached Ryan through his student teaching experience at Greenwood High School this past spring semester. He is also thankful for the support provided by his family and friends over the past several years as he completed his degree. 

We wish Ryan the best of luck, and we share his enthusiasm as he gets settled into his new job at Bermudian Springs High School and prepares for the arrival of his new students in August!



Want to read more about Ryan?

• NAAE National Award Winner

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

Congratulations Manny Catala, #psuaged19 member hired!

As we congratulate the graduates of the Class of 2019, now is the time of the year where we look forward to seeing where our #psuaged19 members go from here! We would like to congratulate Mr. Manny Catala on taking the next steps of his career by getting ready to serve in the Peace Corps for the next 27 months, where he will be working as an Urban Agriculture Extension Agent in Senegal.

Manny shares that he's wanted to join the Peace Corps ever since he was in 10th grade. He was able to learn about the international organization in his U.S. History class and was hooked. "I joined because I want to make a difference. I've been so fortunate in education and want to share that education to those who haven't had the same opportunity as me." Manny says that the Peace Corps as an outlet for him to give back in his own meaningful way.

Olivia Murphy-Sweet, a fellow Penn State Ag Ed alum graduating in 2016, served in the Peace Corps in Senegal previously. After speaking with Murphy-Sweet and doing his research, Manny knew that Senegal was the place that he wanted to be. "I chose [Senegal] because of the hospitality of the Senegalese people and Peace Corps Senegal's ongoing mission to bring empowerment to women."

We asked Manny what exactly he will be doing during his 27 months abroad as an Urban Agriculture Extension Agent. He says he will be working with community members, youth in schools, and small hold farmers to improve agricultural production and efficiency; anything from improving crop production methods and harvest management, to improving nutrition and helping household members cook and improving women's access to extension services necessary for agriculture. Objectives for the Peace Corps' Agricultural Extension Agent position include increasing farmers' capacity to sustainably cultivate improved crop cultivars and to sustainably produce more crops that contribute to family income and access to food at home.

He shares that he's ready to make his mark on an important community. "I'm excited to... ...know I've made a positive difference, no matter how small or big it is. I'm excited to learn about another culture and to share the American culture." At the same time, Manny says that he is a little nervous, since there isn't the rigorous structure in this position that one may expect - service is different for everyone. This, however, affords a lot of opportunity for Manny to be able to grow and learn what he loves about his position, as well as give in his own unique way.

Despite the uncertainty, Manny believe that his time at Penn State has prepared him well. "I believe my time student teaching and being at Penn State will serve me will in my service. My knowledge of agriculture is pretty wide from the courses I've taken, and student teaching has helped further develop my teaching abilities to reach different groups of people." This experience, he believes, will also prepare him to be flexible in tough situations and more sensitive to other cultures when he moves on to the next step of his career after these 27 months. Manny currently doesn't have any plans set after his Peace Corps service - 27 months is a long time after all - but he shares that only time can tell where he will end up.

Manny is serving in an unique capacity, where he has the power to change many people's lives over the next 27 months, and we are all incredibly proud of him. Manny wants to thank everyone who has been a part of Penn State Teach Ag for their guidance and support throughout his Teach Ag journey. We're excited to keep up with his journey in the Peace Corps and see how he uses his Penn State story to inspire others and contribute to growing communities abroad! Congratulations, Manny!


Want to read more about Manny? 

• 2019 Student Teacher Check-In with Manny Catala
• 2018 Student of the Month - Manny Catala 

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

#psuaged19 - Ready to Serve

2019 Student Teacher Check-In with Manny Catala (@MCatala35)

Manny Catala is the current student teacher at Pequea Valley.

We stay in close contact with our student teachers while they complete their student teaching experiences and cap off the Agricultural and Extension Education degree! As part of staying in touch, we love to showcase what our student teachers are up to while they get to try out what they've been learning at Penn State! Our next Student Teacher Check-In is with Mr. Manny Catala, teaching at Pequea Valley High School alongside Mr. Doug Masser (@MasserD), a recent alumni of Penn State's AEE program in 2012.

Time sure does fly! Manny has been student teaching at Pequea Valley for 9 weeks now, and through this time he's gotten to go through a variety of learning experiences. Manny shares that one of the things he's learned in regards to his relationship with his students is that small conversations can make large impacts. He shares that talking to his students has been very important to his success: "The more I get to know my students and their interests, the easier it is to engage them in the content." He also shares that his favorite part of student teaching has been having these one-on-one conversations with his students. This gives Manny a chance to build his relationship with them, and also serve an educational goal by allowing him to help them with their class projects in a more personal way.

Manny instructs students at Pequea Valley High School.

Challenges are inevitable when you start your student teaching experience, so we wanted to know what some of the challenges were that Manny had to face when he arrived at Pequea Valley in January, and how he was able to overcome them. He told us that it was challenging for him to work with students who simply weren't motivated. "A way I try to handle this is building rapport with my students and creating a fun environment for them in class."

Manny has the opportunity to teach a variety of classes, including Power Tech, Large Animal Science, Ag Biology, Horticulture, Intro to Ag Mechanics, and Ag Business. Being able to teach across a wide range of subjects affords the chance to be involved in some really neat opportunities. "... I am able to expand my content knowledge and see what I like and don't like." His favorite class to teach is his Ag Biology class because he has been able to build a strong connection with his students there.

Lastly, Manny shares that it's important to enjoy your time student teaching; "...It goes by fast so appreciate the time with your students and learn from your mistakes."

We appreciate Manny sharing his wisdom with us, and we wish him the best of luck as he powers through the rest of his student teaching experience at Pequea Valley! You can follow Manny through the rest of his student teaching journey by keeping up with his blog, 'Manny's Manual'. 


Want to read more about Manny?

• September 2018 Student of the Month

 

 

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

2019 Student Teacher Check-In with Lisa Boltz (@BoltzLisa)

We love hearing from our Student Teachers! Aside from frequently checking in with them, and seeing all the amazing things they do with their students in their classrooms and through FFA, we would like to help share their experience student teaching, how they're overcoming the challenges they meet along the way, and how they're preparing themselves for a future teaching Agriculture!

You can join their journeys with them! This week we're checking in with Ms. Lisa Boltz, who is currently student teaching at Dover High School with Ms. Alex Barzydlo. We asked Lisa about her favorite parts of student teaching, challenges, and unique opportunities she was able to have along the way so far.

Ms. Boltz is only a few weeks into her student teaching experience and she's already learned so much from the opportunities she's had. She shares that her favorite class to teach is her Large Animal Science class. In this course, she is able to teach the content while having the freedom to experiment with different practices in the classroom. Small Gas Engines also is a favorite class of Lisa's because it's allowed her to learn under the guidance of a veteran teacher while practicing teaching, and getting more comfortable with, a subject that she is less familiar with.

Lisa shares that she's learned quickly that even though your students may be quite, it doesn't mean that they're bored. "I misinterpreted students not talking for them being bored, but once I discussed this with my cooperating teacher, I discovered they weren't talking because they were still absorbing." She says that it's important to make sure that your students understand the material you're teaching before you power through your lessons for the sake of time. On the flip side, she shares that classroom management can be difficult at times. "...I've managed by living by the mantra, 'they can only get your goat if you show them where it's tied.'" Lisa has been tackling classroom management with poise and working to not let the little things get to her, and she shares that even teachers are human, and need to take situations, whatever they may be, one at a time.

Ms. Lisa Boltz with Dover FFA's landscape display at the PA Farm Show.

We asked Lisa what her favorite part of student teaching is, and she shared that it's, "...having the candid and honest conversations with my cooperating teacher to help improve me as a teacher, SAE supervisor, and FFA advisor." She adds that it feels great to know that her virtual mentor team and cooperating center are there to support her through her student teaching journey.

Lisa would also like to share that even though the student teaching experience only lasts through April, the connections you build and the experiences you get are there for a lifetime. "...don't blow the chance to learn from them all the time." Good teachers build on their experiences and carry them with themselves throughout their career, and we can certainly see that Lisa is already thinking about how she can incorporate the opportunities she's taking into her future career as an Agricultural teacher!

We wish Ms. Lisa Boltz the best of luck as she continues her student teaching experience at Dover High School, and we can't wait to see how she's grown personally and professionally when she comes back to Penn State in April!


Want to read more about Lisa?

• November 2018 Student of the Month: Lisa Boltz
• Penn State Teach Ag 2019 NAAE Award Winners
• 5th Annual Domestic Study Away, Day 3: Classrooms, Cranberries, and Connections

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

2019 Student Teacher Check-In with Victoria Herr (@Victoria_Herr)

We love hearing from our Student Teachers! Aside from frequently checking in with them, and seeing all the amazing things they do with their students in their classrooms and through FFA, we would like to help share their experience student teaching, how they're overcoming the challenges they meet along the way, and how they're preparing themselves for a future teaching Agriculture!

Our next Student Teacher Check-In is with Ms. Victoria Herr, spending her spring semester alongside Mr. Jerry Hughes at Penns Manor High School in Clymer, PA. We asked Victoria about her favorite parts of student teaching, challenges, and unique opportunities she was able to have along the way so far.

We're already seeing a common theme among our student teachers, as Victoria shares that her favorite part of student teaching is the students. “Almost every day after school, I find myself calling my family and friends to talk about 'my kids'. They make me laugh, keep me on my toes, and remind me of why I am here.” Through her time at Penns Manor, she has really enjoyed building relationships with her students, and she’s going to miss them when it’s time for her to leave the school.

Victoria's students working in her Small Gas Engines class.

Victoria has the opportunity to teach a number of classes at Penns Manor, including Animal Science, Small Gas Engines, Electricity, Floriculture, Plant Science, and Leadership. She finds it hard to pick a favorite class because she loves the variety she gets to see throughout a days’ work of teaching. “The variability of my days is exciting and really keeps me on my toes.”

One of the greatest opportunities Victoria’s had since starting her student teaching at Penns Manor is to work beside a veteran teacher like Mr. Hughes. “Mr. Hughes has quite a few years under his belt, he is an important member of the community, and he is an amazing ag teacher. His stories always make me laugh but honestly, I have learned so much from him.” Victoria sees him as an excellent mentor, and a great resource. He’s helped substantially in reminder her when she needs to work on what and has been a source of encouragement for her during tough days.

One of the challenges that Victoria has faced this semester is the challenge of stepping into a teaching and learning environment that is different than what she’s been used to in the past. The students and the area are different from where Victoria grew up, so she’s been working to adapt her teaching style to meet the needs of her students. “I have learned to roll with the punches and adjust my teaching to what will suit them and motivate them the best.” Another challenge, which is common for any teacher, is to know that plans will always change. Whether lessons take longer or shorter than expected, schedules change, or anything else happens, Victoria says that ultimately her instruction is focused on the needs of her students.

We asked Victoria if she has any advice to share about her student teaching experience, and she wanted to share advice for the future AEE cohorts at Penn State. She says to, “Find the right cooperating teacher. You can learn the content anywhere, you can master skills anywhere.” It’s important to find a cooperating teacher who you’re comfortable with, and who will push you to be the best teacher you can be. Victoria’s student teaching experience is going well because she was able to choose a mentor that she can ask questions, get advice from, and rely on when she needs help. It's never too early to start thinking ahead, building connections, and planning what your student teaching experience will entail for you.

“I couldn’t imagine student teaching anywhere else…”

It was fantastic to be able to check in with Ms. Victoria Herr and gain some more insight into what the student teaching experience is like. We wish Victoria the best of luck as she powers through the rest of her student teaching experience and prepares to graduate from Penn State in May!   

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences