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

Penn State Alum to receive the Honorary American Degree

Mr. Paul Heasley has taught at SCASD for 24 years, and
been an FFA advisor for 36 years.
Photo courtesy of scasd.org

Mr. Paul Heasley has been teaching in the State College Area School District for 24 years, and has been an FFA advisor for 36 years. Back in October of 2017, during his last year of teaching, Mr. Heasley was honored as a distinguished alumnus of the State College Area School District. Now, one year later, he will be recognized again for his time and dedication to his thousands of students and to Agricultural Education as a whole as he receives the Honorary American Degree through the National FFA Organization.

Mr. Heasley grew up right here in Happy Valley, graduating from State College Area High School in 1975 and graduating from The Pennsylvania State University several years later. Mr. Heasley has had incredible success as an agricultural teacher and an FFA advisor, shaping thousands of lives through his career by implementing high-quality agricultural education programs and showing dedication that reaches far beyond the classroom. During his time as an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor, Mr. Heasley has acquired over $500,000 in grant money to offer opportunity and growth for his students and, in turn, the surrounding community.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Heasley has been involved all around the Commonwealth working with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Soil Conservation Service, and serving on The Pennsylvania State University's Agricultural and Extension Education Advisory Committee. He's been able to advise and evaluate over 200 Agricultural and Extension Education students at The Pennsylvania State University who are now teaching students of their own. One of his greatest accomplishments was earning the Centre County Grange Fair's "Friend of the Fair" award, which he received in 2015 for his countless years of devotion to the annual event which is one of the largest grange fairs in the country.

Mr. Heasley teaching students about electric arc welding.
Photo courtesy of scasd.org 

He adds that, "...teaching Agricultural Sciences is more than a job or career - it is a lifestyle and holds so many rewards other than just a paycheck or other teaching positions. You become part of so many of your students' lives and families that will provide many benefits beyond the classroom walls."

The Honorary American Degree is the highest award an adult can receive through the National FFA Organization. There are quite a few boxes that need to be checked before someone is eligible to receive this award, and those that are nominated to receive the award by their state association have made great contributions to Agricultural Education and the FFA. More details about the award can be found here.

After being an agricultural teacher for over 30 years, we asked Mr. Heasley if he has any advice to share for current and new teachers and FFA advisors. He says that it's important to, "work at being the "lead learner" in your classroom as you grow professionally in the latest technologies found in the Ag industry. Become a part of your community and take leadership roles in Ag groups and PAAE." Staying ahead of the curve and staying connected to those you serve is an important part of being a teacher.

To make this honor even more bittersweet, Mr. Heasley will be receiving his Honorary American Degree alongside two of his former students receiving their American Degrees at the National FFA Convention in October. This student award is the is the highest award that can be given to an FFA member by the National FFA Organization, and analogous to the award Mr. Heasley will be receiving.

Both of these students, Megan Royer and Justin Kurtz, are pursuing degrees in Agricultural and Extension Education from Penn State. Megan thinks it's only appropriate that Mr. Heasley will be with them both in October; "I think it's fitting that he's getting it [the American Degree] with us, because I wouldn't be receiving my American Degree without him and who he's been. Everyone always says he's like the grandfather you've always needed... ...he really is awesome."

During his time as an FFA Advisor, Mr. Heasley now has taught two past Pennsylvania FFA State Officers and four American Degree Recipients.

Mr. Heasley, along with Pennsylvania's three other recipients of the Honorary American Degree, will be receiving this award at the 91st National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana, taking place from October 24th - 27th, 2018.

Contratulations Allyson Balmer, #psuaged18 member Hired!

Ms. Allyson Balmer, recently hired by Kutztown Area High School.

Another one of our recent graduates of the Agricultural and Extension Education major at Penn State, Ms. Allyson Balmer, was recently hired by Kutztown Area High School to begin on August 27th as a long-term agricultural science substitute teacher.

During Ms. Balmer's time at Penn State, she kept herself busy in many areas of the College of Agricultural Sciences and developed a diverse skill set along the way. She took on membership in Teach Ag Society!, Collegiate FFA, and Dairy Science Club, and was even a Camp Counselor for Shaver's Creek Outdoor School, a four-day outdoor education program for elementary school students held at Shaver's Creek, Penn State's nature center. Her list of accomplishments and accolades at Penn State goes on and on, meaning Allyson is well-prepared for her new role in Kutztown.

In Allyson's new position, she will be responsible for teaching horticulture, a horticulture class for life skills students, floriculture, large animal science, wildlife and natural resources, and an SAE class. Allyson says she's excited to work with students of all backgrounds and levels of knowledge, and hopes to make them informed consumers and leaders in their communities. She's especially looking forward to the Life Skills class she has an opportunity to teach. "...they work incredibly well and partner with the life skills students in the high school to provide them a Horticulture class. It is a really unique opportunity and I am very excited to work with the life skills students and teachers for this class."

We asked Allyson if she has any advice for those preparing to student teach or those thinking about becoming a teacher. She says, "My advice is simple. Risk boldly and never be afraid to ask for help, whether from your cohort or administrator. While student-teaching try new ideas, activities, and techniques. You will never know if something is awesome if you never try." Ms. Balmer's student teaching took place at Tri-Valley High School alongside veteran teacher Ms. Gretchen Dingman. She says that the best time to experiment with new ideas and explore the unknown is while you're under the wing of a teacher with experience.

She leaves us with one last piece of encouragement about Penn State's Agricultural and Extension Education program:

"Penn State has an incredible Agricultural Education Program in the rigorous coursework and rewarding experiences you are able to have as a pre-service teacher. I am thankful to have a very strong foundation in planning and preparation, meaning developing curriculum and creating intellectually engaging lessons. We are all educators first, so I believe this to be something Penn State really prepares its agriculture teachers for."

We wish Ms. Allyson Balmer the best of luck as she steps into her new role at Kutztown Area High School!

Congratulations George Dietrich, #psuaged18 member Hired!

George Dietrich, another member of the #psuaged18 cohort, has recently been hired by Oley Valley School District in Oley, PA as a long-term substitute for their current agricultural teacher.

George excelled in Penn State's Agricultural and Extension Education program, where during his time in school he was involved in many aspects of the College of Agricultural Sciences. He was a member of Delta Theta Sigma and of the Alpha Tau Alpha honorary fraternity, as well as involved in the Teach Ag! Society, Collegiate 4-H, and the Dairy Science Club.

During his final year of college, George completed his student teaching at Cumberland Valley High School under the mentorship of Ms. Darla Romberger. After his student teaching, George became well-versed in Intro to Ag, Food Science, Biotechnology, and Ag Construction, all of which were classes that he taught. The experience he brings to Oley Valley reaches beyond just content, and into the community. During student teaching George was able to lead students in designing chicken coops to donate money to Pens for Hens, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that provides pens, training, education, and laying hens for residents in Haiti.

In his new role as long-term substitute for Oley Valley's agricultural program, Mr. Dietrich will get to use his experience to teach Intro to Ag, Advanced Animal Science, Plant Science, Ag Leadership, and International Agriculture. During his time with the school, he even gets to lead two teams of FFA members that are going to National Convention to compete in October!

We asked Mr. Dietrich if he has any advice for those looking to go Ag Ed, and he said, "It's a lot of worthwhile fun. It is a fun major with great professors and great cohort members to work with you along the way. Get involved with clubs and don't be afraid to be involved on Ag Hill. Lastly, going to sports events is a great thing to do during the summer."

If you would like to see more about George and his #psuaged journey, check out his blog here:
https://fromgreenblazers2bluecorduroysaged.blogspot.com/

Congratulations George! We're excited to see where this job takes you, and to hear more success stories from our #psuaged members!

 

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

Jillian Gordon (@jillianedu) and Clarke Central High School FFA featured in Athens, GA News Magazine

Ms. Jillian Gordon, teacher at Clarke Central
and #psuaged15 alumni, holds up her FFA jacket.
Image courtesy of Odyssey Media Group. 

Recognition of our alumni and their accomplishments is always a welcome site! We're proud to see Clarke Central High School's FFA program, headed by #psuaged15 member and 2015 Penn State alumni Jillian Gordon, featured on the cover of Odyssey NewsMagazine, Clarke Central's student-run magazine.

When Ms. Gordon was hired in the Clarke Central School District two years ago, there was no FFA program in existence. In the article published by Odyssey Media Group, she explains that one of her main goals was to build a program that provides leadership and personal growth opportunities to students that aren't already invested in other school programs. So far, she's had great success in her program and takes pride in it. Also featured in the magazine is an article about Clarke Central High School FFA's president, Jordan Butler. You can read the Odyssey article about here here.

We're proud of Ms. Gordon and all of our #TeachAg alumni and friends fostering student success across the nation!

You can follow Clarke Central FFA as they continue to do great things and build their FFA program:

via Twitter: @FFAglads

via Facebook: @clarkecentralFFA

Read about Ms. Gordon's second year of teaching here:
Second Year Check-In with #psuaged15 member Jillian Gordon (@jillianedu)

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog.

Hunter Kauffman, Student Blogger

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

Instagram: kauffman_hunter

Email: hlk5120@psu.edu

Catching up in Senegal with Olivia Murphy-Sweet (@OSweetMurph)

Olivia Murphy-Sweet officially joined the Peace Corps
in September of 2017.

It's time to catch up with #psuaged16 member and Peace Corps member Olivia Murphy-Sweet from all the way in Senegal!

Olivia's decision to join the Peace Corps came after a life full of travel and international experience. She had traveled internationally multiple times, including a trip to Belize in 2015 to complete her undergraduate research looking at how agricultural knowledge is passed down. Through these experiences, she was able to integrate herself into local cultures and meet new people. "I wanted to join Peace Corps to continue to have those experiences and to learn what it was like to live with people who are different than me." When she got the news that she was accepted and traveling to Senegal, she was naturally ecstatic.

Ms. Murphy-Sweet currently serves as a Sustainable Agricultural Specialist, which requires her to teach through garden groups, seed extension, and many secondary projects that don't necessarily relate to agriculture. "Having an Agriculture Education degree allows one to be very versatile in whatever job they want to do." 

Olivia working on a component of the water line
for her water grant project.

Although her decision to join the Peace Corps isn't a typical one, she says that her degree in Agriculture and Extension Education prepared her well, and was able to help her teach in such a broad setting as hers. "I went a little off the beaten path and used my degree on a more international level than staying in America." Through her education she learned how to think critically with her projects, create lesson plans for the formations she leads in the village, and helped her be able to apply what she does know about agriculture to her current position. She just finished her first year of service, and now has one more to go, being complete in December of 2018.

Olivia says her favorite part of Senegal would be her village, and all those that reside there. "I have countless friends and great work partners that help me with projects." One of her most recent projects was a water grant, where she worked with her community to provide water to an area outside of their village. She was amazed at how well everyone worked together to help each other through the duration of the project.

Olivia (3rd from left), with a group of fellow volunteers in Senegal.

We asked Ms. Murphy-Sweet if she has any advice for those pursuing a degree in Agriculture and Extension Education. Her response; "Do it! It will open up doors if you are willing to be creative and accomplish your goals whether it is in the classroom or not. Once you have the degree, the possibilities are endless." Her degree helped her to open up a very unique opportunity, allowing her to challenge herself while experience a community that would help her through every step of the way. Olivia's experience is proof of the diversity of opportunities that an Ag Ed degree can give you. We want to thank Olivia for sharing with us, and wish her the best of luck as she finishes out her service to the Peace Corps!

Hunter Kauffman, Student Blogger

Wildlife and Fisheries Science 

The Pennsylvania State University

Email: hlk5120@psu.edu

Instagram: kauffman_hunter

From Classroom to Department of Ag: Sec. Redding speaks to #psuaged16

Yesterday, the 2016 Student Teacher Candidates and AEE staff met with the new Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding to discuss Agriculture Education, his time at Penn State when he was a student, and of course what he plans to do in the future with his new position.

Before Secretary Redding was the nominated by Governor Tom Wolf to serve as the 26^th Secretary of Agriculture for PA, he was the former dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College. He is a graduate of Penn State getting his B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Extension and Education and has used his education to serve as Chair for the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21^st Century Agriculture.

 

When Secretary Redding sat down with the 2016 Student Teacher Candidates they wanted to know what his expectations are for the future teachers in agriculture and what he personally thinks they should be aware of. He stated, “I believe that Agriculture Science teachers should be able to connect science and civics together to form good lessons. Teachers should be solid in science skills and be translators to why agriculture is important to show students and parents to gain support. Be contemporary on issues, well read, engaged and persistent. Lastly, look at the need for what we are preparing our students to go out and do after they graduate.”

He also gave the student teacher candidates some advice to prepare them for the future when they are student teaching and even when they accept jobs. He stated, “The top three things that you should be aware of are, you can never have enough patience, don’t be afraid to accept constructive feedback, and lastly be personally organized.” All of his advice and input for the future teachers were taken seriously and the 2016 Student Teachers felt more prepared for their student teaching experiences in the next semester!  Overall his visit was constructive and the students were happy to have him! 

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog.

Olivia Murphy-Sweet
Student Blogger
Teach Ag! Avenger
Twitter Handle @OSweetMurph  

2016 Agricultural Education Student Teacher 

I'm On The Road Not Taken... (#TeachAg, #Global, #AGEDU)

Hello!  My name is Nicole Weaver and I appreciate you stopping in to read my first blog post! I am a new mom (my 3 1/2 month old son is sleeping in my arms as I write this!), a wife, a teacher, an advocate of global school-based agriculture education, and an aspiring amateur chef!  If you will be patient, I'd like to tell you a little about myself and why I'm here!

I was not a typical kid.  I watched Grease every day after school and knew the lyrics to every Queen and Pink Floyd song when I was 8.  Other kids wanted to be doctors and lawyers and I wanted to be the next Jaques Cousteau - at least until a touched a dolphin for the first time. I was not a typical kid.

I wasn't a typical College of Ag. Sciences student either. I took random classes like Linguistics (which I highly recommend!) and French Cinema (which I also highly recommend) because they "sounded fun."  I was an Animal Biosciences major my freshman year and sort of "fell" into the Agricultural & Extension Education major - I'm honestly not sure how it happened, but I'm glad I did!  The other AEE majors all came from farms or some agriculture background - I grew up down the road from a farm and helped my grandparents make jars of our ancient family tomato sauce recipe. I worked with PGSAS (Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences) and traveled to Ukraine and Poland to do farm tours. I also acted in and stage managed several theatrical productions during my 5 years. I graduated from PSU in 2004 with a degree in AEE and two minors - International Agriculture & Theatre.  I was not a typical college kid.

And now?  Well for the past 10 years, I've been an atypical Ag. Teacher.  I luckily found Twin Valley High School in Berks County, PA. They "get" my atypical-ness and encourage it!  When CASE (Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education) was brand new, they paid for me to attend one of the first training sessions.  I became the first teacher in PA to be certified in CASE. I teach about soil science and floriculture by day, and advise Theatre Arts Club and produce the school's spring musical by night - and this past school year I choreographed the show (while pregnant!) as well. I'm not a typical Ag. Science Teacher.

See a trend? Well now, I get to add a new role to my professional quirkiness: PSU Global TeachAg! Fellow. I'm the first of my kind! My school (Twin Valley) was kind enough to grant me a semester of educational leave to complete my M.Ed, and PSU Center for Professional Personnel Development in the Agricultural and Extension Education Program in the College of Ag. Sciences was gracious enough to offer me a full-time graduate student experience and internship. Now, I get to take my passion for International Agriculture and utilize it to further global school-based agricultural education in secondary schools in PA.

This semester I hope to create new links between teachers and students from all over the world and create a system where our students are learning about agriculture on a broad scope. I want to create an open dialogue with professionals from diverse backgrounds and our students to get them asking important questions about global agriculture and how we are going to use our knowledge to solve the dilemmas that face our planet.  I hope to offer you, my reader, some new ideas; if you are a teacher, I'd like to give you resources to implement global agriculture education in your classroom; if you are a high school student, I'd like to open your mind and challenge you to think outside your realm of comfort; if you are a professional, I'd like to inspire you to think globally, and encourage you to develop global competency; and in general, I hope to entertain and educate you.

I like that I'm not your typical Agriculture Science Teacher or PSU graduate student. I like that my passion in Global Agriculture could create great change and growth in our state. Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" has always been an inspiration to me and I think it's perfectly fitting now - to create global competency and the ability for agriculture globally to serve our population, we need to take the road less traveled. We need to be brave. We need to be quirky. I'm on the road less traveled and I hope you'll join me on this journey. 

Wanna chat global school-based agricultural education?  Follow me on Twitter (@TeamWeaverFever), e-mail me (TeamWeaverFever@gmail.com) or comment on this blog!  I hope to hear from you!

Agriculturally yours,

Nicole