Teach Ag Avenger Spotlight: Rea Ianson, #psuaged15

Rea Ianson
2014 Teach Ag! Avenger

The Teach Ag Avenger we are shining the spotlight on this month is Rea Ianson! Rea (@rnianson08) is a perfect example of a small town girl with big time dreams. She grew up on her family’s maple farm in Coudersport, PA where she has helped every year with the syrup production along with the beef cattle her family raises.

While attending Coudersport Jr. Sr. High School, Rea was involved in many things but nothing stole her heart as much as FFA. She was an active member and officer in the Spud Growers FFA Chapter. Her love for her family’s farm and her experiences in FFA began Rea’s journey in the agriculture industry. Along with being an AEE major, her time as an avenger have reassured Rea that Agriculture Education is the right path for her!

Rea’s favorite part of being an avenger is getting to promote something she is very passionate about and help others realize the infinite possibilities in agriculture. She also stated “I love the connections I have been able to make through this experience. I have met amazing leaders in FFA, incredible agriculture educators and students who are going to create a great future for this major!”

Rea and fellow Teach Ag! Avengers
Laura, Olivia & Howard

Along with the connections she has made with people in the public, Rea, a 2015 student teacher, values the relationships she has made with the other avengers throughout this year so far. “It’s great to go through this experience with other AEE students, we really have become like a family!”

Rea has participated in numerous events as an avenger and says the skills she is learning will benefit her future in so many ways. “I’m learning public speaking skills, communication skills and professional development all while recruiting and promoting this major!”

Rea’s future plans include becoming the best agriculture educator and FFA advisor she can be, raise a family of her own and living on her own maple farm!

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 Metrick

Student Blogger

2014 Teach Ag Avenger

@Its_LauraBeth

Checking in with 2014 Student Teacher Jeanne Case! #psuaged14



Jeanne Case, 2014 Student Teacher

Jeanne Case (JRose_Case), a 2014 student teacher has come a long way to get to where she is today! From her countless hands on experience with the blog, her internship at the PA Farm Bureau, her involvement with the College of Agriculture, and so many more, she can honestly say that it all has prepared her for this experience. Jeanne is under the watchful eye of Mrs. Barzydlo in Dover Area High School in York County. Her everyday interactions with the kids and her enthusiasm to teach has made everything worth it for her.

Students in her auto
shop class

When Jeanne first arrived she had a lot of experiences to prepare her for this position. She has dealt with so many different people that have been in her life it is easy for her to deal with difficult situations. She was a part of Delta Theta Sigma (an agriculture fraternity), multiple clubs including Teach Ag! Society and CFFA, and her internship with the PA Farm Bureau. With all of the people skills she attained she was able to apply them at her student teaching experience! Jeanne stated, “Some students "tested" me by turning a blow torch on when they were behind a box and I could only see them from shoulders up. I calmly told them "no, no, turn that off" and apparently I passed the test because I didn't freak out and start yelling at them. At least, that is what they told Mrs. B. I didn't think it was a big deal, growing up with farm friends and dealing with my fraternity brothers, it didn't really phase me.”  At least all of her life situations ended up in her benefit!

Students working in the
green house

Jeanne was surprised to learn how much she was interested in teaching subjects that she had no idea she would love! She found out that she actually has a knack for teaching horticulture, which was funny to her because she hated making those lesson plans! She had the “ah ha moment” when she realized that she actually learned a lot of horticulture and plant science from her parents when she was growing up!

 Jeanne also made sure to leave some advice for the future student teachers! Her senior fall picked up so quickly that she realized she had to get her “Moodles” and assignments done quickly to make sure to be ready with all the lesson plans she needed to get done. She also stated, “Go to your cooperating center with an open mind. I did not meet any of my students except for one before I started teaching. They turned out to be AWESOME! I am glad that I got to meet them when I started teaching because it has let us learn together”

Jeanne and some of the students!

 “My students make my student teaching experience, if we did not have such a good time together, teaching would not be worth it for me.” Jeanne Case is going to do great things in the future and we can’t wait to check back in and see where she is and what she has been up to! 

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!

Olivia Murphy-SweetStudent Blogger
Teach Ag! Avenger
Twitter Handle @OSweetMurph
2016 Agricultural Education Student Teacher 

Checking In With #psuaged14, Meagan Slates

West Perry Student Teacher
Meagan Slates

This semester the members of #psuaged14 are completing their student teaching all across the state! This week we are checking in with Meagan Slates who is student teaching at West Perry High School to see how her classroom experience is going so far!

Meagan (@Meagan_PSU) grew up in Hickory, PA and attended Fort Cherry High School where she was a member of the H.G. Parkinson FFA Chapter. She chose to do her student teaching at West Perry High School for a number of reasons. The program includes two teachers and a variety of courses ranging from plant and soil science to Ag mechanics and wildlife. The school is also has a larger Ag department than where Meagan went to school and they also have a large and FFA chapter as well.

The variety of courses has been one of Meagan’s challenges but she wouldn’t change it at all. She stated “I love that I get to teach something so different every class period but it's a challenge when it comes to the topic I'm not an expert in. However I know that I always have the help of my cooperating teachers and that is awesome!”

Meagan and students welding ice cubes together!

While the job can have its challenges, the benefits definitely outweigh them. Slates’ favorite part of her student teaching experience so far is getting to see the students succeed and enjoy what they are doing. She also enjoys attending conferences with the FFA chapter and watching the young ninth graders come to class. The ninth graders are learning to weld and completing a feed scoop project. “The students love being in the shop and working on their projects. It’s so cool to see how many of the younger students are scared to weld but end up liking it!”

Meagan’s advice to future student teacher candidates is to “challenge yourself! Teach those subject areas you’re not confident in. During student teaching you have a cooperating teacher and a PSU advisor to help you…use them! Ask questions you’re not sure about and take chances.”

Meagan and her cooperating teachers Mr. John Hines & Mrs. Ayla Miller (Detwiler) of West Perry!
 Both are PSU Alums!

Keep up with Meagan and follow her student teaching journey on her blog:  http://agvocatingforthefuture.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!

Laura Metrick 

Student Blogger

2014 Teach Ag! Avenger

@Its_Laura Beth

PSU Teach Ag! Avenger Spotlight: Laura Metrick, #psuaged15

Laura Metrick!

Shining a spotlight on the next Teach Ag Avenger, Laura Metrick (@Its_LauraBeth) you will notice how much she has done for Penn State in her short time since she has transferred to University Park. You might even recognize her as the author for some posts on this blog! Laura did not grow up with the typical FFA background but that is what has made her story so amazing!

Laura has always know that she wanted to base her life around agriculture. Born and raised from a family farm in Butler County, it was easy for her to incorporate agriculture into her life. She grew up showing animals for 4-H, putting countless hours into her families produce farm, and even advocating in her school how important agriculture is. Even though her high school didn't have an FFA program, Laura jumped right into facilitating workshops for FFA when she became an Avenger!

Laura, a 2015 student teacher (#psuaged15), gave this quote, “Being an avenger is such an awesome experience! I love interacting with the public and teaching them about Penn State and the Ag Ed Major!” 

Laura's Family

Since being an Avenger she has facilitated a weekend of ACES workshops in Harrisburg, PA, facilitated an FFA knowledge event in Penn’s Valley High School, and has even judged a Parliamentary Procedures Competition in Line Mountain! She has definitely jumped into agriculture in so many different ways and her passion shines through on every task she completes!

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

Olivia Murphy-Sweet
Student Blogger
Teach Ag! Avenger
Twitter Handle @OSweetMurph
2016 Agricultural Education Student Teacher