Local teachers attend conference

CROGHAN » Cornell Agricultural Education Outreach, in partnership with the New York State Association of Agricultural Educators ( NYAAE) Executive Council, New York State Education Department, and the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), hosted the annual Professional Development Conference for Agricultural Educators Celebrating 100 Years of Agriculture Education June 20-23 at the Oswegatchie Educational Center.

Director of Cornell Agricultural Education Outreach, Shari Lighthall said, “We are excited to have celebrated 100 years of Agricultural Education during our annual conference. Our event offered professional development to enhance the quality of instructional programs for secondary agricultural educators through in-service education with activity-based workshops that addressed the needs of our constantly changing agricultural and agriscience programs including development in rigorous STEMinstruction and inquiry based learning. Sessions raised the importance of scientific rigor of agricultural courses for middle, high, and postsecondary educators with new technologies and resources for their classrooms.”

At this year’s event educators learned about Agriscience Inquiry, Breakout EDU, Animal Science curriculum, Adirondack Wildlife and Natural History, Small Engine Carburetors, advocating for animal agriculture and more while having time to enjoy the surroundings at Oswegatchie Educational Center. More than 135 agricultural educators and guests attended the event.

The following teachers from Oneida/ Madison counties attended the conference:

Keith Schiebel, Sara Tuthill of Vernon-Verona- Sherrill Central School; Erin McCaffrey, Patty Waldron, Stockbridge Valley Central School; Paul Perry, Matt Bruno of Madison Central School; Johanna Bossard of Hamilton Central School; Paula Burnor of Canastota Central School.

Newly elected NYAAE President, Erin McCaffrey explained, “Agriculture teachers impact the lives of students in countless ways but the job is exhausting. Conferences help to refresh our spirits and ignite our passions for education. It is great to collaborate with other agriculture educators and to remember, at the end of the school year, the reasons why we are excited to go back to school in September.”