The opportunity to increase curriculum options for students is always a priority for school districts. At BKW, Agriscience Teacher & FFA Advisor Michaela Kehrer recently accepted two scholarships that will help offset the cost of her professional development and allow her to provide additional classroom lessons, projects, and experiences for students in her agriculture classes.
“Each year, we review ways we can increase learning opportunities and move the conversation forward for our students in the agriculture program,” shared Kehrer. “If you stay on top of researching funding and scholarships, there is a strong chance you can find new ways to help your students gain better access to experiences and information. Recently, I was fortunate to receive two scholarships to increase my professional development that will pay dividends for our students. We are excited to share those opportunities in our classroom.”
The two professional development opportunities are closely aligned with the Agriscience program which includes the district’s FFA chapter. The scholarships offset the cost of the programs for Ms. Kehrer to complete, while allowing her to increase her expertise and share that knowledge with the local community.
The first course supported by scholarship is the Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education (CASE) Agricultural Business Foundations (ABF). This course introduces students to business management in agriculture and builds a pathway for additional courses to access in high school. Mrs. Kehrer participated in this course through a scholarship provided by Farm Credit East, covering half of the initial cost. Additional information on this course can be found here.
The second course focuses on CASE Animal Health and Veterinary Science. AVHS concentrates on inquiry-based learning and technical skill development. This course provides an in-depth examination of veterinary science and the factors affecting animal health. Access to that course was supported by a grant from the New York Association of Agricultural Educators. You can find additional information on that course here.
In addition to the scholarship options for these classes, Ms. Kehrer was also awarded an Agriculture Education Incentive Grant (AEIG) whose funding will assist in preparing BKW students for statewide and national FFA competitions as well as leadership opportunities.