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

2019 Student Teacher Check-In with Lisa Boltz (@BoltzLisa)

We love hearing from our Student Teachers! Aside from frequently checking in with them, and seeing all the amazing things they do with their students in their classrooms and through FFA, we would like to help share their experience student teaching, how they're overcoming the challenges they meet along the way, and how they're preparing themselves for a future teaching Agriculture!

You can join their journeys with them! This week we're checking in with Ms. Lisa Boltz, who is currently student teaching at Dover High School with Ms. Alex Barzydlo. We asked Lisa about her favorite parts of student teaching, challenges, and unique opportunities she was able to have along the way so far.

Ms. Boltz is only a few weeks into her student teaching experience and she's already learned so much from the opportunities she's had. She shares that her favorite class to teach is her Large Animal Science class. In this course, she is able to teach the content while having the freedom to experiment with different practices in the classroom. Small Gas Engines also is a favorite class of Lisa's because it's allowed her to learn under the guidance of a veteran teacher while practicing teaching, and getting more comfortable with, a subject that she is less familiar with.

Lisa shares that she's learned quickly that even though your students may be quite, it doesn't mean that they're bored. "I misinterpreted students not talking for them being bored, but once I discussed this with my cooperating teacher, I discovered they weren't talking because they were still absorbing." She says that it's important to make sure that your students understand the material you're teaching before you power through your lessons for the sake of time. On the flip side, she shares that classroom management can be difficult at times. "...I've managed by living by the mantra, 'they can only get your goat if you show them where it's tied.'" Lisa has been tackling classroom management with poise and working to not let the little things get to her, and she shares that even teachers are human, and need to take situations, whatever they may be, one at a time.

Ms. Lisa Boltz with Dover FFA's landscape display at the PA Farm Show.

We asked Lisa what her favorite part of student teaching is, and she shared that it's, "...having the candid and honest conversations with my cooperating teacher to help improve me as a teacher, SAE supervisor, and FFA advisor." She adds that it feels great to know that her virtual mentor team and cooperating center are there to support her through her student teaching journey.

Lisa would also like to share that even though the student teaching experience only lasts through April, the connections you build and the experiences you get are there for a lifetime. "...don't blow the chance to learn from them all the time." Good teachers build on their experiences and carry them with themselves throughout their career, and we can certainly see that Lisa is already thinking about how she can incorporate the opportunities she's taking into her future career as an Agricultural teacher!

We wish Ms. Lisa Boltz the best of luck as she continues her student teaching experience at Dover High School, and we can't wait to see how she's grown personally and professionally when she comes back to Penn State in April!


Want to read more about Lisa?

• November 2018 Student of the Month: Lisa Boltz
• Penn State Teach Ag 2019 NAAE Award Winners
• 5th Annual Domestic Study Away, Day 3: Classrooms, Cranberries, and Connections

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

2K18 NAAE Convention Highlights

In November the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators (PAAE) had several members receive awards at the 70th National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Convention in San Antonio, TX as well as other members from the organization attend to aid in directing the national association for the next year. 

The members of PAAE had also participated in professional development focusing on agriculture, sessions on building partnerships between agricultural educators, agribusiness leaders, and policy makers. Our award winners from PAAE were Meagan Slates receiving the Outstanding Early Career Educator Award and Janae McMichael receiving the National Teacher Turn the Key Award. 

Meagan Slates gets her drive by student success in and outside the classroom. She utilized technology and experiential based learning to make her daily instruction interactive. Along with experience based learning, Meagan makes her courses engaging, rigorous, and model job expectations. Meagan currently serves on the Policy Committee for both NAAE and PAAE, and has attended the National Policy Seminar in Washington D.C. to advocate for career and technical education. 

Janae McMichael is a strong supporter of the three-circle model for Agricultural Education, she actively searches for ways to incorporate the three components in a way to create contextual, inquiry-based, and engaging learning experiences for her students. Janae is devoted to be a lifelong learner and does her best to seek out opportunities to grow as an educator, advisor, team member, and industry representative.

Penn State University also had members from #PSUAgEd19 cohort at the convention to experience professional development at the national level as well as network with future colleagues. Three Penn State students received the Upper Division Scholarship from the NAAE, Victoria Herr, Ryan Rupert, and Lisa Boltz. Penn State University was also named Region VI Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program. The faculty at Penn State, Dr. Daniel Foster, Dr. John Ewing, and Dr. Kevin Curry, provide their students with current methods and how to effectively use them. The curriculum utilizes eight core courses to prepare teacher candidates for their future career.

Congratulations to all award recipients, and we hope that the convention provided you with many new and innovative ways to lead your classroom and exceed expectations.

Luke Kerstetter

Communications Team Member

Twitter Handle: Luke_Kerstetter

Agricultural Education Student Teacher 2020

November 2018 Student of the Month: Lisa Boltz! (@BoltzLisa)

Every month we recognize a student within the Agricultural and Extension Education program who has gone above and beyond as our Student of the Month. In November, this student was Lisa Boltz, a Senior in the program. Let's learn a little more about Lisa, and why she's been chosen as our November Student of the Month:

Lisa is originally from Lickdale, PA, located in Lebanon County. She was a graduate of Northern Lebanon High School in 2014, where she went on to serve as Pennsylvania FFA's State Treasurer in 2014-2015 before starting her Penn State journey in the fall of 2015 at Penn State Berks. During her past two years at the University Park campus, Lisa has been engaged in everything the College of Agricultural Sciences has to offer while still staying involved with the FFA.

A little more about Lisa:

Birthday: October 9th, 1995
Favorite PSU Class: HORT 201 (tree climbing)
Favorite Sports Team: Penn State Football
Favorite Hangout on Campus: Ferguson Building
Favorite thing at PSU: "Without a doubt my favorite thing at Penn State is the school pride in EVERYTHING. You experience Penn State Pride at sports events, on campus, and even off campus when you meet complete strangers that were once Penn Staters!"
Favorite place to eat in State College: "This is difficult because I try not to go out frequently! I’d say it’s a tie between Moe Monday’s with my roommates and Cracker Barrel dates with the cohort."
Favorite Quote: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela 
 4-H/FFA Background:

• Lebanon County Horse 4-H from 10 - 18 years old
• Northern Lebanon FFA from 9th - 12th grade
• Parliamentary Procedure LDE
• Public Speaking 
• Regional CDEs 
• Lots of State Conferences! 
• 2014-2015 Pennsylvania State Treasurer 
• 2016 National Delegate

We're proud of Lisa as she prepares for her final presentations in the coming days and we wish her the best of luck as she gets ready to student teach at Dover High School alongside Ms. Britney Marsh in the spring! Lisa's final presentation is on Wednesday, December 12th at 10:15 AM EST. If you would like to tune in and celebrate her success, join her via Zoom.



Want to read more about Lisa Boltz? 

• @TeachAgPSU #psuaged19 members National Award Winners! 
• August 2016 Student of the Month: Lisa Boltz

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

@TeachAgPSU #psuaged19 members National Award Winners!

Lisa Boltz

22 students from across the United States had received the Upper Division Scholarship from the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). Their efforts in academic performance, leadership, service, and passion to become an agricultural educator has allowed them to qualify for this scholarship. Penn State has three students that were selected to receive this scholarship Lisa Boltz, Victoria Herr, and Ryan Rupert. Each of them will receive $1,500 to offset their expenses during their student teaching experience this spring.

Ryan Rupert

Since 2010 Penn State has submitted 27 applicants and had 20 national award winners, and this is the fourth year in a row that Penn State has had 100% of applicants receive this scholarship! The scholarship amount per student it $1,500, this represents $30,000 secured from NAAE since 2010 to advance our candidates' teacher education. Of our 20 national winners, 16 of them are currently teaching in high school programs.

Lisa Boltz will be student teaching at Dover Area High School, Victoria Herr will be student teaching at Penns Manor High School, and Ryan Rupert will be student teaching at Greenwood High School.

Victoria Herr

The funding for this scholarship came from Growth Energy, National Geographic Learning | Delmar Cengage Learning, and donations from Herman and Bobbie Wilson. Growth Energy as stated in their mission statement "represents the producers and supporters of ethanol, who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being, and create a healthier environment for all Americans now." National Geographic Learning is a part of Cengage Learning and they, "believe that an engaged and motivated learner will be a successful one, and they design our materials with a highly interactive storytelling approach which is a great way to invoke these connections."

The NAAE is a professional organization in mission to provide advancements to agricultural education, grow agricultural educators, recruit and prepare future agricultural educators that have a passion to teach. They provide their 7,800 members with resources that can be used inside the classroom as well as professional development through conferences and conventions. The mission of the NAAE is, "Professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service."

Luke Kerstetter

Communications Team Member

Twitter Handle: @Luke_Kerstetter

2020 Agriculture Education Student Teacher

Guest Blog: 5th Annual Domestic Study Away: Day Three - "Classrooms, Cranberries, and Connections"

Editor's Note:
What is a Domestic Study Away? A Domestic Study Away (DSA) is a non-credit experience that is 100% Student-Developed and Student-led. The Penn State Teach Ag! Society runs where a group of students travel to a State to explore the following: 

1. What does #AgEdu look like in other states? How is the total model of school-based agricultural education (Classroom Instruction, Youth Leadership Development <FFA> and Work-based learning <SAE>) uniquely provided? 
2. Who are the #AgEdu Stakeholders in the state? Specifically, what agricultural industry is being served? 
3. A unique yearly selected professional development topic! For #psuaged2WI, it is "Gender in the Agriculture Industry, Agricultural Classroom and Agricultural Education Profession. 

You can virtually-engage with this experience by reading and commenting on the daily blogs and following the experience on Twitter and Facebook with our hashtag #PSUAgEd2WI. We could not complete this transformative learning experience with out the incredible support of our partners including: The Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators, The Wisconsin Team Ag Ed, The Penn State Center for Professional and Personnel Development and the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Student Activities Fund.

This is a series of blogs capturing reflections from each day of the experience by one of the participants. The goal is to post the daily reflection 24 hours after completion of activity. Below is the second day reflection of Lisa Boltz (@MeMyselfandlkb), a member of the #psuaged19 cohort with a minor in Political Science. The reflection focus is the third official day of DSA in New Richmond, Wisconsin at New Richmond High School, Cranberry Discovery Center in Warrens, WI, 

Welcome to day three of our Domestic Study Away to Wisconsin. Our adventures began at 6:30am as we commuted to the New Richmond High School's agriculture department, taught by Ms. Sauvola (@MrsSauvola).

Our group split into two groups to instruct Ms.Sauvola's inquiry based learning classes in Veterinarian Science and Environmental Science. Michaela, George, Rose and Lisa led a lesson on Animal Nutrition, students learned about the six essential nutrients for an animal's diet. Macy, Allyson, Katie, and Angie taught a lesson on fresh water, students learn about the importance of this resource and human impact on freshwater sources. For many of us, this was our first attempt at teaching using inquiry based learning methods. A group consensus was that it was a fun challenge that helped us grow and develop. Ms. Sauvola's advice to our group was that we should not fear curriculum, failure, or being told No. We should go all out and work that hardest we can to provide opportunities for our students.

Upon our depart from New Richmond we traveled to Warrens, WI to visit the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center. Here we learned many new facts about the cranberry industry, such as the name, which originated from the sand cranes that were feeding near a wild patch of Crane-berries, as the Native Americans referred to it. During our tour we were escorted by Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Deb Raemisch to the Wetherby's Cranberry Farm where we spoke with Nodji, a third generation Cranberry farmer. She added valuable content regarding gender roles in the industry. When she inherited the Wetherbys she was a single woman that had just left her previous career as an English teacher, she spoke about the struggles she endured physically and mentally. Now after raising her family she aspires to pass on the farm to her grandchildren, making Wetherbys a fifth generation farm.

The drizzling rain chased us from Wetherbys to our destination in Wisconsin Dells, where we had dinner with representatives of Accelerated Genetics and Foremost Farms. Joan Behr, with Foremost Farms, discussed the role that their cooperative plays in Wisconsin as it serves 1,300 Farms in the Great Lakes Region. Angie Lindloff, with Accelerated Genetics, informed us of the roles the company takes on as a premier supplier that prides itself in the quality of business they provide to cattle breeders world wide.

Our nightly reflection focused on the progress we made today in efforts continue the momentum through the remainder of the DSA. Keep tuned in to hear more about our amazing adventure, and please enjoy the video created by Macy (@macy_fisher) summarizing the days events!

To read more about our #psuaged2WI adventures, see:

• Day 1 - We are going on an #AgEdu Adventure by @TheGeorge4H 
• Day 2 - Student Ownership by @BeckerAngelaM

Lisa Boltz, 

2019 Student Teacher Candidate

@Memyselfandlkb

August 2016 Student of the Month: Lisa Boltz (@memyselfandlkb)

Every month we like to highlight students that have gone above and beyond in the Agriculture Education department! In August, we are proud to share the stories and accomplishments of Ms. Lisa Boltz!

A graduate of Northern Lebanon High School, Lisa began her agricultural education journey in an unexpected fashion.  Lisa joined the FFA organization her freshman year because all freshman at Northern Lebanon complete a meat rabbit production SAE (supervised agricultural experience).  If deemed a successful breeder, the student is then permitted to take home one bunny.  This incentive drove Lisa to dawn the blue and gold, but it was the encouragement of older students to attend events that would eventually spark her passion for agriculture.   

Lisa served as the Parliamentary Procedure specialist for the Penn State Teach Ag! Program from fall 2015 through spring semester 2016.  When asked what she enjoyed most about here position, Lisa mentioned, "I loved being able to help students across the state learn about Parliamentary Procedure, as it is a topic I have come to love and hate at the same time.  I enjoyed being a peer figure students could turn to for advice."  

As an agricultural education major, Lisa looks forward to student teaching in 2019.  Lisa decided to become an agriculture educator midway through her freshman year, making a dramatic change from her aspirations to be a fashion designer!  Her decision was confirmed during her year serving as an FFA State Officer.  "I want to be an FFA advisor for the rest of my life.  I face challenges everyday with a non-traditional agricultural background, but I am relying on college courses, internships and resources to gain new knowledge.


Lisa is a member of the Berks agricultural and environmental club, and PSU Teach Ag! Society.  Lisa has also used her leadership capabilities to serve as a first year mentor on campus, as well as an orientation leader.  

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

Hometown: Lickdale, PA

Favorite PSU Class: Ed Psych

Favorite place to eat in State College: The Green Bowl

Favorite Creamery Ice Cream: Depends on my mood: Peachy Paterno or Death by Chocolate

Favorite Hangout on Campus: Commuter lounge at Thun Library

If you could be any animal, what would you be & why?  Definitely a bird so I could fly, have beautiful colored plumage, and so I could actually sing.

If you would like to read more about Lisa, connect with her via 
Twitter: @memyselfandlkb
Instagram: @lkb411


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

Wait for the Drop: Lisa Boltz Parliamentary Procedures Specialist

Hello! My name is Lisa Boltz and I am from Jonestown, PA! I am super excited to announce that I am the PSU Teach AG! Parliamentary Procedures Specialist this year at Penn State. Although I know this is a great opportunity my first year as a college student, I can't help but get that feeling you get in your stomach when you are just jumping right on in to something exciting and new!

My life often feels like the feeling you get when you jump from a diving board, when the roller-coaster crests over the largest drop in the tracks, or even when you miss a step on the stairs. I personally call this the “drop” mentality and it seems as though I have been addicted to it my whole life.

The first drop I encountered in life I would compare to that of a roller-coaster cresting the highest peak and plummeting its way to the bottom of the tracks before rising again. I say this because similar to a roller-coaster I was strapped in for the ride and didn’t have a lot of say in where I went. This drop would be my family buying the campground and general store in good old Jonestown, Pennsylvania. I call this a ride because as many entrepreneurs know a business is a business, and it is always full of unknowns. Many people don’t realize from the outside looking in, that a campground is a “24 hour, 7 days a week” business and that meant my parents were always moving, and I became one independent little firecracker as I got older.

I love to try new things and as a high school student I experienced my second drop into the unknown as I entered in the agriculture education classes, little did I know it would be similar to that of a jump off the diving board, you can see where you can go, although you must choose to jump. The descent of soaring through the air consisted of endless public speaking competitions, hilarious FFA conference experiences, nights burning the midnight oil to finish my record books on time, finding a second family in my parliamentary procedure team, and finally earning my spot to serve on the 2014-2015 State FFA Officer team. I had to work hard and prepare to pull off the dive I wanted, but the ride was so fun that I feel the need to go back for more.

Finally, I come to my third huge drop in life and that would be missing my step on the staircase. We’ve all felt the absolutely terrifying experience as it happens and then look back and laugh at our overreaction. I pray that is what is happening currently. I and feeling the terrifying drop into the unknown as a plow my way through tough college courses and grab at any opportunities I see, just as any “good” college student would do. Despite my terror I and extremely excited to start my journey as a college freshmen who plans to major in Agriculture and Extension Education. I am also ecstatic to jump right on in to also being the PSU Teach Ag! Parliamentary Procedure Specialist.

I invite you all to giggle at my stumble down the stairs as long as you all are there to catch me if I truly do land on my rear.  I am truly blessed to be starting this journey with the PSU Teach AG Society, the FFA, and the loving family I have and will grow at Penn State

To contact me feel free to email me at lisaboltz1009@gmail.com