Special Guests

• Antoine Alston, North Carolina A&T University

Guests: Amanda Bowling and Katrina Swinehart-Held from Ohio State University and Shannon Norris from New Mexico State University 

Main Points:  

• To connect with students, ag teachers should provide accessible mentorship, create attainable relationship, foster student collaboration, and foster commitment to the program. 

“It’s our job as ag teachers to teach students how to think, not what to think.” 

Guests: Colby Gregg and Kelly Claflin from Ohio State University, Tim Buttles from University of Wisconsin River Falls, and Laura Greenhaw from the University of Florida 

“Teaching tools are designed to help you. Use ones that are cool and effective but mostly ones that make it easier on you. If they get your students involved and meet your objectives, they’re the right tools for you.” 

Guests: Amanda Bowling and Colby Gregg from Ohio State University, Maria Boerngen and Justin Rickard from Illinois State University 

Main Points:  

• Be an ally. This is the first step in creating an inclusive classroom. Immediately address small, inappropriate comments made in your classroom. 

“We should be looking at inclusion more so than diversity. We need to think about including kids and not simply having diversity in our agriculture classrooms.” 

Guest: Megan Cantrell and Annie Muscato from the University of Florida

Main Points: Student stress falls into seven areas:

1. Academic 

“Students can become overwhelmed. If the student doesn’t say ‘yes’ to participating in something enthusiastically, then they probably should not participate.” 

Guest: Gaea Hock from Kansas State University 

Main Points: 

• Research Stations were established by the Hatch Act of 1887 

“We must make it known that accessible people exist who enjoy scientific process. These folks are willing to help students in any way they need it.”  

Guest: Mathew Albritton from University of Florida 

“If you’re teaching a topic that you are less familiar with, do not worry! There are so many avenues of support. Anything from family members and colleagues to publications and YouTube can help you prepare for a lesson on an unfamiliar skill.” 

Guest: Kathryn Teixeira from University California, Davis 

Main Points: 

• Teachers use platforms (like Facebook Groups), to connect to other teachers, find resources, and ask pertinent questions. The presence of such groups boosts the morale of students and provide many other benefits. 

Guest: Raegan Rampage and Richie Roberts from Louisiana State University 

“We need to encourage teachers, no matter what career stage they are in, to engage in trainings and meetings to really learn about individual students. This way they can tailor their class to that student.” 

Guest: Kirby Schmidt from Oregon State University 

Main Points: 

• There is so much we can do to help. Something as simple as having a routine in your classroom provides stability to students.