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