#FirstYearSeries Check-In with #psuaged16 member Mason Tate (@mttate18)

Mason Tate, #psuaged16 member, is currently
teaching at Athens Area School District.

It's great to keep in touch with our past #TeachAgPSU graduates! As part of our #FirstYearSeries, we check in with our recent Teach Ag grads and get to share how their first year of teaching is rolling! 

This week, we're checking in with Mason Tate (@mttate18), a #psuaged16 member and 2016 Penn State graduate. During Mason's time at Penn State, he took full advantage of what the College of Agricultural Sciences has to offer, with membership in Ag Student Council, Collegiate FFA, Alpha Tau Alpha, Agronomy Club, and more. His semester of student teaching took place at Lampeter-Strausberg High School under the guidance of Ms. Holly Oberholtzer. 

Mason was hired in his home school district of Athens, where for the past year he had the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects, including 6th grade Earth Science, and for sections of 7th grade Life Science. When he was first hired, he said, "I find this age group fascinating, and they have an enormous amount of energy. Just like me!”. It seems as though after a year, Mason is still enjoying the same enthusiasm and positive energy! In the beginning of his second year this fall, Mason and his students even kicked off an Ag Club, with 47 interested students in attendance of the first meeting.

Mr. Tate taught agricultural mechanics, among
other topics during his timeat Lampeter-Strausberg.

We asked Mason what hist first year of teaching has taught him, and he detailed lots of small tasks and tricks that you may not necessarily think about until you find yourself with a teaching job. One overarching theme connected much of the acquired wisdom from his first year; be organized and prepared. "I have a monthly calendar on my desk that is filled with events and deadlines. If you think you can keep it all straight in your head you're in for a surprise." He emphasizes on the organizational tools such as lists and sticky notes (which are his best friend!). 

We asked Mr. Tate if he has any advice for those who are currently student teaching, or those who just began their first year. He says, "Prepare. Plan. Ask questions. Set goals. Find something to laugh about each day." One of his most inspiring moments was hearing from his students how much they enjoyed his 7th grade science class.He says that staying positive is an important part of the job. 

We want to give a big thank you to Mr. Tate for his take on the first year on the job, and look forward to following up with him in the future! 

If you would like to read about his student teaching experience, check out his blog!

Other Posts on Mason Tate:

Hired! Teacher Candidate Mason Tate hired at Athens Middle School #psuaged16
Student of the Month: Mason Tate #psuaged16 #teachag
"How do I choose?": A Practical Guide to Selecting Classes for AEE Majors. Part 1 of 3.
#psuaged16 returns: They are CHANGE agents

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, Student Blogger

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences

Email: hlk5120@psu.edu

Instagram: kauffman_hunter

Hired! Teacher Candidate Mason Tate hired at Athens Middle School #psuaged16

Originally from the small town of Athens, Pennsylvania, Mr. Mason Tate, 2016 Agricultural & Extension Education graduate will be returning to his home town to teach middle school science at Athens.  Congratulations! Mason looks forward teaching middle school students.  “I will be instructing 6th and 7th graders.  I find this age group fascinating, and they have an enormous amount of energy. Just like me!” 

Mason competing with Teach Ag! Society at
National Convention

Before landing his job at Athens, Mason student taught in Lancaster County at Lampeter Strasburg High School with Holy Oberholtzer. Mason was involved in the Agronomy Club, Teach Ag! Society and was a brother of the Delta Theta Sigma fraternity during his time at Penn State.   He hopes to take his agronomy club experiences to assist with the Athens FFA agronomy team, and coach them to go to Nationals within the next 5 years!

Mason will be teaching 5 sections of life sciences as one of 4 science teachers at the middle school.  His agricultural background and knowledge will bring science concepts to life for his students.  His curriculum will include the classification of living organisms from the most basic forms of life all the way to mammals. Additional content includes plants, trees, and forms of reproduction.  And of course, like any good science classroom Mr. Tate’s class will have dissections.  Worms, crayfish, and frogs are on the list for this year.  

Mr. Tate taught agricultural mechanics at
 Lampeter Strasburg 

Building relationships and being approachable are some of the most important things to Mason as he thinks about the students he will be working with.  As he teaches science at Athens, we know he will show students the many connections between science and agriculture daily and continue to offer his students an endless array of opportunities and skills in and outside of the classroom.  “If I could leave only one thing with my students it would be this... Mr. Tate was a man who was always approachable.  He made connections to real life principles whenever possible.  And he went the extra mile to see the success of everyone of his students.”  Mr. Tate we wish you all the best, and endless amounts of energy as you step into the classroom at Athens Middle School.

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