Colorado Ag in the Classroom Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award Program
This award will recognize an outstanding educator for creative efforts to teach students about the importance of agriculture and their ability to integrate agriculture topics into academic curriculum. Eligible teachers will be currently engaged in classroom instruction at the pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade levels.
The award winners will be required to receive their award Thursday, March 21st at the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture’s Celebrating Agriculture Dinner in Greeley. The educator selected for first place will receive $500 from the Colorado Farm Bureau. The winning educator’s application will be submitted to the National Ag in the Classroom Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award Program (see www.agclassroom.org). Winner will also be eligible for an expense-paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, June 25-28, 2013 in Minneapolis, MN compliments of the Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom program by Colorado Foundation for Agriculture if chosen as a national winner.
Application Deadline: December 1, 2012
Who is eligible?
A teacher or principal may nominate one outstanding teacher or one team of teachers to receive an award. A letter prepared by the teacher or principal should convey a strong sense of the teacher's efforts to introduce agricultural information into the classroom. This should reference actual situations and learning activities.
What are the criteria for selection?
Teachers must utilize agricultural information and/or materials within their classroom curriculum in an effort to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Learning activities may include, but are not limited to, an understanding of agriculture's impact on personal lives, our national heritage, the environment and the economy. Innovative and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged.
How are nominations evaluated?
Applications will be evaluated based on a rubric of 100 possible points. Four categories are considered:
1. Creativity and utilization of agricultural information
2. Interdisciplinary approach
3. Student impact
4. Overall impact, longevity of program
Nomination guidelines
1. Complete the application
2. Prepare a summary description (no more than 250 words)
3. Provide a narrative response to three criteria (limited to 2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point)
A. Describe the unique and innovative approaches to advancing agricultural literacy in the classroom.
B. Identify the teaching methods employed (i.e. experiential, case study, etc.). Specify agricultural concepts taught and which academic areas of study were utilized. What was the depth and duration o the activity? Explain how these lerning experiences helped advance state and/or national education standards.
C. Explain how these activities helped students better understand the impact of agriculture.
4. Include Endorsements:
By an Administrator (to substantiate the nominee's excellence in and dedication to the teaching role)
By a co-worker (to substantiate the nominee's excellence in and dedication to the teaching role)
5. Supplemental information: any additional information deemed essential for the nomination such as letters of support, additional awards/recognition, etc. may be included in an appendix; color photographs or other graphics that demonstrate nominee's agriculture in the classroom activities may be included in an appendix.
NOTE: please provide a statement of release for the use of photographs and other materials by Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, Colorado Farm Bureau, USDA and other AITC programs in public forums, internet dissemination, publications, etc.
How to submit application
1. Fill out the application form on-line (www.growingyourfuture.com) and email requested information to bblinde@growingyourfuture.com
2. Print out the application, fill in the information and mail hard copies of the requested information to Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, PO Box 10, Livermore, CO 80536 (NOTE: staple information; do not bind or use notebooks)
3. Facsimiles (faxes) will not be accepted
When and where to submit
All nominations must be received by December 1, 2012.
Email: bblinde@growingyourfuture.com
Mail: CFA, PO Box 10, Livermore, CO 80536
