Wilmington, Delaware, USA
July 16, 2015
Through the National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy (NATAA), DuPont has invited 48 of the nation’s finest agricultural science teachers to the company’s Chesapeake Farms in Chestertown, Md. Invited teachers learn new teaching techniques in order to elevate their students’ agriscience educational experience in classrooms.
Now in its 13th year, the NATAA “Ag Academy” is a professional development institute sponsored by DuPont and is a special project of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). Top-rated agriscience teachers are selected to participate in one of two sessions, learning techniques and exciting new strategies that, when brought back to the classroom, will invigorate students to learn more about agriscience and its vital role in helping create a healthier, more sustainable future.
“We recognize the impact great teachers make. Agriscience teachers can create the inspiration and passion in students now that will inspire them to make the game-changing breakthroughs in agriculture and nutrition needed to feed the world in the next 30 years,” said Rik Miller, president, DuPont Crop Protection. “The Ag Academy is an important professional development experience that gives teachers the tools they need today to help students become agriscience innovators tomorrow.”
This year, the Academy will have trained 322 “Ag Ambassadors” who, in their roles as trainers, will join more than 12,000 teachers across the United States including Puerto Rico and Alaska having a direct impact on over a million students during the life of the program.
“The Academy’s program trains agriscience teachers how to amplify the science that is already present in agriculture as well as develop students as problem solvers and thinkers,” said Jay Jackman, executive director of NAAE. “By bringing this practice back to their home states, teachers help students to explore the many dimensions of agriscience from agribusiness to science and math. The overall result is that it elevates student achievement as measured by standardized tests.”
Ag Academy participants experience teaching concepts in a dual farm and classroom approach on DuPont’s 3,300-acre working farm, designed to energize teachers and infuse that learning experience with their students. Teachers also visit labs and engage with scientists and engineers to learn about global food security, food safety, global water issues and solar energy solutions.
Sessions are facilitated by former Ag Ambassadors and workshop trainers with more than 100 years of combined teaching experience. LAB-AIDS of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., developed the training curriculum, in conjunction with DuPont, which focuses on agricultural science, sustainability, natural resources, horticulture and veterinary science.
Selected graduating teachers will lead future seminars and workshops at the Agriscience Institute during the annual National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky., and the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) convention in New Orleans, La.
The NAAE is a federation of state agricultural educators associations with more than 8,000 members. Currently NAAE is focusing on advocacy for agricultural education as well as professional development for and recruitment and retention of agricultural educators. NAAE offers a variety of programs and services to support this mission.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.
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