MIDDLETOWN >> Middletown High’s agriculture program along with one of its teachers were recently honored.
The program was named 2013 Region VI NAAE Outstanding Middle/Secondary School Agricultural Education Program and Middletown High School teacher Amanda Thomson was named 2013 Region VI NAAE Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher.
The NAAE, which stands for National Association of Agricultural Educators, gives out state awards and then six regional awards throughout the country. Region VI, Middletown’s region, extends from Maryland to Maine.
“I’m really very honored to have been chosen,” said Thomson. “It’s a highlight of my career.”
Middletown High was selected through a variety of criteria including teaching philosophy, effective classroom and experiential instruction, development of partnerships and professional growth.
First selected as the state winner, Middletown went on to be chosen as the regional winner. As such, Middletown will receive a plaque and an expense paid trip to attend the 2013 NAAE convention.
Middletown’s agriculture program serves students from all over Middlesex County. Its mission is to help students learn about agriculture and lead them to being accepted at two- or four-year college programs or to a career in agriculture following high school.
Selected as the state winner and then the regional winner, Thomson will receive the use of a Toyota Tundra for two years along with an expense paid trip to attend the 2013 NAAE convention in Las Vegas in December and an invitation to an awards dinner.
“In our state, we have a close-knit group of about 120 agricultural teachers,” Thomson explained. “Each year, we nominate peers for certain awards. Then there’s an application process.”
According to the NAAE, the awards are to recognize teachers at the pinnacle of their careers while conducting the highest quality agricultural education programs. Award winners are seen as innovators and catalysts for student success in agricultural education, the NAAE said in a press release. “In the next couple of weeks, we have our mentorship program for incoming students,” Thomson said. “I am currently helping students develop lessons and activities that they will lead to form a connection with incoming students.”
Programs like that are reasons that Middletown High and Thomson were chosen for the awards, the NAAE said.
“The application was to write eight pages highlighting teaching philosophy, background info on program, curriculum, student leadership program, experiential learning, partnership with community and professional development,” Thomson said.
The agriculture program at Middletown High continues to be a success as a numerous amount of students are headed to national competitions in the fall including ones for forestry, poultry and agricultural science research projects, Thomson said. They will be headed to the student national convention for the NAAE in Louisville, Kentucky, in October.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Thomson said. “I’m sure there will be many more [highlights] to come through my students.
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