Teachers Excelling in the Workplace

Teachers Excelling in the Workplace: Darla Romberger

Pennsylvania has a number of young agricultural educators making an impact inside and the classroom. At Cumberland Valley High school, Darla Romberger co-advises more than 170 FFA members and agriculture students, helping to guide the chapter to a number of National Chapter awards, state officers, and Keystone state degree recipients. 

Cumberland Valley FFA hosted PA Secretary of Agriculture,
Russell Reading during Pennsylvania Ag and Food Careers Week

Recognition of Excellence

Ms. Romberger was recently awarded by her Alma Mater, Delaware Valley University, the Secondary Education Award during their Alumni Achievement Awards this past fall. Delaware Valley highlighted 10 individuals who had made contributions to their chosen field and who had been active in community and professional organizations.

She said that she was humbled to to have been recognized by her peers for the successful part of her ag ed journey, and shared she enjoyed being able to showcase how agricultural education is an integral part of secondary education as a whole.

Ms. Romberger was awarded the Secondary Education Award

Ms. Romberger new she wanted to be a teacher in high school because she enjoyed helping and tutoring others. This led her to pursue a degree in agricultural education. After becoming a teacher in a suburban school district, she "quickly realized the need for agricultural education literacy in science curriculum", and she gets most excited at the opportunity to expose students to the ever changing and growing agricultural industry.

Sam Loy

2021 Agriculture Teacher Candidate

Twitter Handle: @samloy_ag

April 2016 Student of the Month: Sarabeth Royer (@sb_royer)

Every month we like to highlight students that have gone above and beyond in the Agriculture Education department! April we are proud to share the stories and accomplishments of Ms. Sarabeth Royer!

From a dairy farm in Lancaster county, to student teaching in Bradford county, Sarabeth's  agricultural education experience started at a very young age.   She takes her farm roots to heart saying, "There are so many valuable lessons learned on a farm that cannot be transcribed onto a lesson plan. Lessons about life with a newborn calf and newly sprouted corn. Lessons on responsibility, cherishing life, valuing time, and so much more. As a future agriculture educator, I strive to not only integrate the lessons on agriculture, but also those "life-lessons" for my students. I want to help them see the potential in not only the agriculture industry, but also the potential in themselves."

Sarabeth is a Schreyer Honors student, representing the 5% of college students at Penn State that earn this honor.  Not only does she excel in her academic honors, but she is one of the most involved students in the major.  She invests her time within the major through Teach Ag! Society and as a member of Alpha Tau Alpha Agriculture Education Honor Society and Collegiate FFA.    She is involved in Dairy Science, Poultry Science where she is on the Poultry Judging Team and in the Coaly Society.  Sarabeth has served as an Ag Advocate promoting Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences to new and visiting students as well as the student body.  Outside of the College of Ag, Sarabeth is involved in Navigators Christian Ministry.  


 A senior in Agriculture & Extension Education and Animal Science Minor, she is quickly nearing the end of her time at Penn State.  She is one month from finishing her student teaching experience at Athens High School with Mr. Steinfelt.  When asked about what she loves most about teaching thus far, she responds: The Students.  "Being able to foster relationships with these students who can be  funny, entertaining, frustrating, exciting, and inspiring all at the same time is life changing for me. Being able to look at a student and tell them "I believe in you, you can do this," or "It's alright, try again," and seeing the glimmer of hope and sometimes belief is fantastic. I wish that my students could see how truly incredible they really are!" 

 Your students are lucky to have you Sarabeth!  Good luck as you complete your semester, we are looking forward to seeing you graduate and seeing where you end up teaching next year!

Sarabeth is always encouraging her students and her
cohort with her quotes of the week. 

Want to know some fun facts about Sarabeth? Check them out below!

Hometown: Elizabethtown, PA

Sarabeth, her cooperating teacher and some of her students
 visiting the capital after SLLC

Favorite PSU Class: Soils 102 (Lab), Poultry Judging, An Sci 201

Favorite place to eat in State College: D.P. Dough & the Creamery

Favorite Penn State Athletic Team: Dairy Science Flag Football Team

Favorite Hangout on Campus: Poultry Education Research Center 

Favorite Creamery Ice Cream: Death by Chocolate

Favorite Tractor Color: Red

If you would like to read more about Sarabeth, connect with her via 
Twitter: @sb_royer
Blogger:    http://clucksandmoossbsnews.blogspot.com/



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.

Kayla Hack 

Student Blogger

Twitter Handle: @hackkayla

2017 Agriculture Education Student Teacher