Congratulations Cheyenne Wivell, #psuaged18 member Hired!

Another #psuaged18 member has been hired! We'd like to congratulate our very own Cheyenne Wivell, who was recently hired by Gettysburg Area High School in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Cheyenne is originally from Wellsville, Pennsylvania, and a former member of the Gifford Pinchot FFA Chapter. She completed her student teaching internship in the spring of 2018 at Kennard-Dale High School in Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State in the spring of 2018.

During her time at Penn State, Cheyenne has had many great experiences in The College of Agricultural Sciences. Here's just a short list of what she's been involved in:

• Collegiate Horseman Association

• Collegiate Penn State Horse Judging Team

• Photography Chair for the Annual Penn State Quarter Horse Sale

• Employee of the Penn State Horse Barns

Cheyenne was officially hired by Gettysburg Area High School on November 5th, and steps into the position from her previous job as a West Nile Field Assistant with Pennsylvania's West Nile Virus Control Program in York County, where she has been traveling around the County sampling and treating for mosquitoes and testing for West Nile Virus. "Did you know that there are over 60 types of mosquitoes in Pennsylvania? York County found 31 varieties this summer." This position provided her with a very unique experience and a much different view of agriculture that intercepts both animal and human health.

In September Cheyenne was offered a full-time position with the County, but said that she was ready to get back into teaching, so she applied at Gettysburg High School. She was hired for the teaching position on November 5th, and began teaching this past Monday on November 19th, just as one of the current teachers, Ms. Laura Kennedy, left for maternity leave. She joins the agricultural program at Gettysburg with a fellow Nittany Lion, Ms. Jenna Timmons, a #psuaged16 member who was just hired by the district in the spring of 2016 and also completed her student teaching at Kennard-Dale High School!  

As she steps into her position at Gettysburg, Cheyenne will get the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects, including Intro to Agriscience, Ag Leadership, Animal Vet Science 1 & 2, and Equine Science. If you know Cheyenne, you'll know her passion for horses, so she's very excited to teach the Equine Science class, but she says, "each one of these classes brings a special interest to me and I'm super excited." She's ready to get into teaching again, and see the profession from the angle of a full-time teacher after getting the experience of a student teacher. Cheyenne was sure to point out that Penn State's Agriculture and Extension Education program has prepared her to teach by providing her with lessons, patience, practice, and understanding. She says that she's anxious to step back into teaching, but it feels like she's coming home. "I am super excited because everyone is super supportive, excited, and glad I am here; that makes the transition even easier! I love this district and the individuals here." 

We asked Cheyenne if she has any advice for anyone who's thinking about Agricultural Education. She says that if you're thinking about it, just to do it. The opportunity to teach someone else and to be a positive agent of change is an important and influential one. She shared that, "You could be the only reason that student smiled today, the only reason that student felt important. Wouldn't you want to do that for someone?"

We wish Cheyenne the best of luck as she steps into her new position at Gettysburg Area High School, and we can't wait to see her success! She leaves us with one last thing to say: 

"I am very thankful for all of the support that I have received and still receive from the crew at PSU! I greatly appreciate you all and hope you have a great Thanksgiving!"

- Cheyenne Wivell, #psuaged18

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

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

Entering Year Three: Excited about engaging as a Teacher Leader

[Editor’s Note: Laura Kennedy (Polatnick) came to our teacher preparation program as a graduate student after completing an undergraduate degree in Animal Sciences. She completed an M.Ed in 2011 and is currently entering her third year of teaching agriscience]

My name is Laura Kennedy and I am currently an agriscience teacher at Wilson Middle School in Fishersville, Virginia.  I graduated from Penn State in 2011 with a Masters degree in Agricultural Extension and Education; since then I’ve had the opportunity to work with both secondary and middle school agriculture students. I am now going into my third year of teaching and my second year at the same school! As many will say, the first year as an agricultural teacher can be very challenging – being a new teacher at a new school two years in a row – still just as challenging; but with those challenges come A LOT of fun and life lessons.

Ms. Kennedy and 6th grade Agriscience students engaging
in a wreath making lesson!

As I think back to what brought me to this point, I wanted to make sure that I shared key pieces of information that might help others as they conquer their first few years as an agriculture teacher. First being, do not take on too much your first year of teaching – this is key!!  Many times throughout this year and last, I found myself wanting to be just as great as the other teachers who maybe had 20+ years on me -- and at times I would get discouraged when I would realize I had maybe run out of time and couldn't do certain activities, or I wished I would have planned activities differently because the original plans didn’t work out. As a new teacher feelings of discouragement and frustration then led to questioning whether or not I was cut out for this. At those moments when I felt the most self doubt, I would always think back to what was taught to me by my professors – don’t try and conquer it all in your first few years, you’ll burn out. Remembering this made me feel good, and gave me the confidence as a first year / new teacher to know that even if I didn't get to an activity or event this year, I could and would the next.  I also found myself giving this advice to many of the other new agriculture teachers around the county who were challenged by their own self doubt.

Ms. Kennedy with three of her 2013-14 Chapter Officers
who received a scholarship FFA jacket!

Another piece of information that really stuck with me was the importance of being involved in your professional organizations like PAAE and NAAE – I’m teaching in Virginia so we have the VAAE. These associations grant so many opportunities and provide such great information, not to mention the lasting relationships that you build with other teachers and vendors throughout the state and even the country. Last year I made a promise to myself that I would make it a goal to attend conferences put on by these associations because of the advice that was given to me by my agricultural teacher educators. With that being said I laugh because at this years’ ag. teachers’ conference, I volunteered to become the Northern Area Vice President for VAAE. To be honest I was terrified by the thought of having the extra responsibility -- but with the overwhelming lack of volunteers to fill the position I raised my hand.  What makes me excited about this opportunity is the fact that this association is so important in aiding not only current ag. teachers, but future ones as well -- and it is because of what I have learned throughout this continuing process that I feel so strongly about these associations.

The last thing I would like to share is this – there will be times in life, not just in your career, where opportunities will present themselves and you will feel, for whatever reason inadequate, which then may prevent you from participating – but in those moments, please remember that the only person who is doubting your ability is yourself – push past that and participate, raise your hand and get involved. As Mary Kay Ash (Entrepreneur, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics Inc.) said “don't limit yourself; many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.” To all future and current educators, enjoy this year and remember to have some fun!

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

Laura Kennedy (Polatnick)

Guest Blogger

2011 PSU AEE Graduate

Twitter: @LaKennedy0906