Jason Chester, agricultural education teacher at West Rowan High School in Mt. Ulla, was one of 12 teachers from across North Carolina selected to participate in the N.C. Agricultural Education Cohort for the 2013-2014 school year. This professional development and leadership program administered by the N.C. Agricultural Education staff within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University is made available by support from the N.C. Small Grain Growers Association as a special project of the N.C. FFA Foundation.
The cohort is a cluster of agricultural education teachers who work together for a year with leaders within agriculture and education from around the country. The purpose is for both personal growth and leadership development of N.C. agricultural education teachers. Over the course of the school year, these selected teachers will receive quality training that focuses on developing their knowledge of the agricultural industry, educational trends and issues, as well as organizational and leadership skills.
“It is our goal to provide quality training and resources to this group of teachers in order that they will continue to develop as outstanding classroom instructors, mentors to other agriculture teachers, and leaders in their communities,” said Gerald Barlowe, state agricultural education leader.
“We are grateful for the financial support of the N.C. Small Grain Growers for making this outstanding investment in our teachers,” said N.C. FFA Foundation Executive Director Joshua Starling. “Agricultural education is preparing our youth to ensure the security of our country’s food, fiber and natural resources for years to come. Through real-world experiences, our state’s agriculture teachers are helping students develop the technical knowledge, skills and problem-solving capabilities to be the industry’s leaders of tomorrow.”
The N.C. FFA Foundation provides financial support and public awareness for agricultural education and FFA in order to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.