Hired! Teacher Candidate Sarabeth Royer Hired at Athens Area High School! #psuaged16

To say Ms. Sarabeth Royer was “Tagged to Teach Ag” at an early age is an understatement.  Growing up on a dairy and poultry farm, her parents were her first teachers. Sarabeth's parents encouraged her, guided her, showed her, and let her learn on her own. As a teen, Sarabeth's Ag teachers took the reigns. “They believed in me before I believed in myself, and pushed me to try harder, go farther, and achieve more.”  Sarabeth has the opportunity to do just that at Athens High School where she has been hired as an Agricultural Educator!  Congratulations Sarabeth!

Ms. Sarabeth Royer & Mr. David Stienfelt

Athens is where Sarabeth student taught with the guidance of Mr. David Steinfelt, who she will now call a colleague, and teach alongside.  Sarabeth was hired as part time agriculture, part time science.  She was drawn to Athens even more after student teaching there. “I was just blown away by the community. While student teaching at Athens I felt very welcomed and I knew that I wanted to find a school that was as closely knit to their community. At first, I was very hesitant of teaching science part time, but realized that I really enjoy science and that there are so many teachers who teach subjects they weren’t originally planning on teaching! Plus, Biology and Agriculture are very much intertwined.” 

While at Penn State Sarabeth held animal science and international agriculture minors and was extremely involved in campus organizations including Teach Ag! Society, Poultry Science Club, Dairy Science Club and Navigators to name a few! She also served as an Ag Advocate for the College of Agricultural Sciences. These all led her to an incredible student teaching experience at Athens, where she really learned “it’s all about the students, the community and the small victories of everyday teaching.”  This will continue to serve her well. 

One of the many quotes Sarabeth lives by!

Athens Area High School is home to largest FFA chapter in Bradford County.  Mr. Steinfelt has classes in Introduction to Agriculture, Horticulture, Ag Mechanics I and II and SAE/FFA Leadership. Sarabeth will be teaching Animal Science and Veterinary Science along with some Biology classes. “This is exciting because in the past, the high school has primarily had Science teachers that taught Animal and Vet Science, so it will be nice to have two Ag Teachers at Athens.”  Sarabeth is excited to continue working with Mr. Steinfelt and the diverse and welcoming Athens community. From getting her FFA jacket through the PA FFA Alumni Jacket Campaign, to growing flowers, learning how to drive a  tractor and keeping records on her chores for her Supervised Agricultural Experience, she is ready to help her students do the same.  “I hope to always keep my classes relevant so having any type of certification for my students would be ideal. I also would LOVE to see that Athens Ag Program expand even more and embrace their everyday victories.”

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

February 2016 Program of the Month: Athens High School

In Pennsylvania we have over 150 FFA chapters that represent the Blue and Gold at its finest. There is one chapter that has stood above the rest this month to become our October Program of the Month. This month Athens High School, is that program.

Congratulations on increasing your involvement!

Athens High School FFA was chartered in 1934.  Mr. David Steinfelt and Mr. Jacob Banik are the current teachers at Athens.  Mr. Steinfelt and Mr. Banik currently have 153 students in the program and the participation in state level FFA conferences has been growing!  Athens is home to two greenhouses, one of which is used for hydroponics and the other is used for the annual flower and vegetable plants.  The program also has a strong Agricultural Mechanics shop, where welding, electrical wiring, plumbing, small gas engines  and even some construction!   This year Athens is a cooperating center for teacher candidate Sarabeth Royer.   

The greenhouses are essential parts to the Ag Ed
program at Athens

Athens High School offers various classes for students to choose from including: 

Animal Science 

Vet Science

Horticulture

Agricultural Mechanics I

Agricultural Mechanics II

FFA/SAE

Introduction to Agriculture 

Recent Accomplishments for Athens High School FFA Chapter:

5 Keystone degree winners 22 FFA Jacket Winners at the 2016 PA Farm Show

Successful integration of AET into the program

Recently established Alumni Chapter

2014-2015 State FFA Officer: Mara Tate and 2013 State FFA Forestry Team Winners

New FFA Jackets Awarded at PA Farm Show demonstrate the pride
and tradition of our organization!

The growth and recent success at Athens high school shows they are in good hands, and on the road to even more success!  Congratulations on being selected as February's Program of the Month!  

Ms. Sarabeth Royer and her cooperating teacher Mr. David Steinfelt

Want to hear what is going on right now at Athens?  Tweet Ms. Sarabeth Royer, PSU Ag Ed Student Teacher.  @sb_royer.

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