Professional Development
Agricultural educators know that preparing the next generation for Nebraska’s largest industry is a responsibility that requires them to be at the top of their game. Sharpen your skills as a professional, increase your knowledge of advances in agriculture, and expand your ability to make a difference by participating in professional development opportunities!
Onsite Inservice PD Sessions Include:
- Briggs and Stratton Beginner School – Tuesday, May 24 – Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Norris High School. Perform a complete teardown and reassembly of a horizontal shaft Overhead Valve (OHV) engine. Cost $600. Registration link here!
- Technical Skills Workshop – Various dates, in May and June 2022 at Southeast Community College and Central Community College. Providing skills instruction in a variety of Agriculture Mechanic and Skills & Technical Sciences. No cost! Registration link here!
- Nebraska Career Education (NCE) Conference, held June 6 – 9 2022, in Kearney, NE, is a professional development learning opportunity featuring national and state CTE leaders. During the CTE Conference, NAEA will provide valuable professional development opportunities, FFA district board meetings and NAEA business sessions. Check out sessions on https://nceconference2022.sched.com/. Post conference session topics (Thursday, June 9) include Parliamentary Procedure, financial literacy, electrical, greenhouse management, and precision ag.
- Excellence in Ag Science Day – a free professional development workshop, sponsored by UNL Extension, held June 17, 9 am to 3 pm. Topic this year will be pollinator education, ranging from native bees to honey bees to monarchs! Review of Native Bee curriculum by Cornell University. You will have the opportunity to learn how to implement Mason Bees into your classroom, community gardens, etc. Watch for registration information. Contact Brandy VanDeWalle with questions.
- Hummert Educator’s Short Course – at the Hummert headquarters in St. Louis, MO. Three days of classes, field trips and hands-on greenhouse experience. Early Career Educators course (July 12-14) designed to arm teachers with what they need to succeed in a new growing environment. Two sessions for Experienced Greenhouse Educators (June 7-9 and June 28-30) will skip the basics and dive into more advanced materials. Information here. Cost is $350.
- Central Community College Professional Development – available in Soil Science, Drones in the Classroom, Pesticide Use and Safety, Animal Science, Plant Science, Pesticide Use, Advanced Welding, and Remote Pilot Certification Prep. To learn more, visit https://www.cccneb.edu/hs-professional-development-workshops. Stipends for attendance are available. Attend one or more sessions. Registration due Monday, May 30, 2022.
- Region III Conference – Monday, June 20 – Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Ord, NE. Registration due May 20. More information and registration link here!
- Ag Teachers Bootcamp – Monday, June 27- Friday, July 1, 2022, hosted by Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis, NE. This bootcamp will cover a variety of topics and CDE preparation in the following areas: Agronomy, Ag Business/ Ag Economics, Ag Mechanics, Animal Science (Equine and Livestock). More details and a registration link to come shortly.
- CASE Institute – Plant Science – Wednesday, July 6- Friday, July 15, 2022 (week days only, opening evening meal on July 5). Hosted by UNL’s CASNR and held at Waverly High School Institute cost of $2900 includes all training materials, supplies used at the institute, hotel, and weekday meals/snacks. And you walk away with a year-long hands-on, inquiry-based, STEM-based, Plant Science curriculum where you have personally experienced nearly all of the labs and activities. Registration link here!
- Guide Educators Conference – July 6-7, 2022 in Lincoln, NE. $75. An educator’s conference focused on teaching with an entrepreneurial mindset.What do entrepreneurship and teaching have in common? More than you think.Imagine what schools could look like with more teachers thinking like an entrepreneur. We seek to empower educators to create greater value, find opportunities, and challenge assumptions within their classrooms. Join us and spend two days rethinking your approach to classrooms, students, and your role as an educator. Registration link here!
- Science and Agricultural Academy (SAA) Animal Science focused Professional Development – July 18-July 22, 2022 in Lincoln, NE. Provides science and agriculture teachers with a program designed to teach real-world science through the context of Animal Science – connecting with concepts of biology, chemistry, and physics, If possible, particiate with science and ag teacher from the school. Stipend of $400 over one year period, plus lodging, mileage, and food costs associated with attending the PD will be provided. Participant receive equipment and/or supplies, valued at $800. Registration link here. Contact Drs. Nathan Conner ([email protected]) or Bryan Reiling ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
- Back to School Tech Book Camp – Aug 1, 9 am to 3 pm at ESU 8, Neligh. PK-12 educators with beginning to advanced technology familiarity are invited to expore opportunities for student engagement, formative assessment and productivity hacks. Register at www.esu8.org.
- 2022 NAAE Convention – November 29 – December 3, in Las Vegas! Held in conjunction with ACTE’s CareerTech VISION, NAAE members have access to both conventions for one price. NAAE schedule to come!
See the scholarship link (below) for available scholarship, to assist with cost of each Professional Development opportunity.
Contact Stacie with ideas and suggestions for topics and presenters.
Live Online Inservice : Come join the virtual fun by attending a live PDW or viewing a previously recorded session. PDWs can be hosted by anyone (teacher, industry partner, state staff, college faculty, etc), so check back often for the latest list!
Contact Stacie with ideas and suggestions for topics and presenters.
Tip: When viewing a video, click the small gear icon in the bottom-right of the video player to select a higher quality stream.
- Ag Communication CDE update – Walk through the Ag Communications State CDE (2022) with Dr. Taylor Ruth. View the recording here.
- Ag Mechanics CDE update – Learn about 2022 CDE and ask questions as you prepare for the Ag Mechanics State CDE. Link to recorded webinar here!
- 2022 State FFA Convention webinar – All your questions answered, as you prepare for the NE State FFA Convention, 2022. Recording link here. Powerpoint with links found here!
Farm and Ag Business Management CDE Pilot Team Event – YouTube link (2022) for here.
Food Science CDE update – Learn about updates as you prepare for the State CDE (2022). YouTube link for Food Science.
Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE – coaching guide geared primarily toward 4-H judges, presented by Briana Buseman (2022). Recording link here.
- Meat Evaluation and Technology CDE Update – Review the steps in the CDE process as you prepare for the 2022 Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE, presented by Briana Buseman. Recorded webinar link here!
Teacher Retirement Advice – Review of advise for teachers, to assist in making good decisions for a strong retirement plan (2022). Recording link here.
For more informheration, please contact Stacie Turnbull ([email protected]).
Summer PD scholarship – Two scholarships for Professional Development in the summer of 2022. Funds can be used to pay for 50% of any PD registration costs OR 50% of equipment costs. See attached fliers. Scholarship are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.
2022 FFA Foundation PD Scholarship
2022 Soybean Checkoff Scholarship
Farm Credit Services of America – $2,000 scholarship FCSA Grant information and application
Events below this header are hidden
Events Offered by Team Ag Ed
Are you a teacher with 7 to 15 years of experiencing? Join us June 17-18 in Lincoln for XLR8! This all expense paid professional development opportunity is brought to you courtesy of the Star Program focusing on teacher retention. Teachers attending this experience will receive a $200 stipend in addition to all expenses covered on-site.
The XLR8 Institute will:
- Tackle work-life balance
- Develop strategies to lower work load stress
- Gain insight on why saying no means saying yes to the most important things
- Improve overall career satisfaction
- Earn 8 hours of professional development and continuing education credits for recertification or education requirements
Registration is open now and closes on May 31st. Visit this website to register: https://bit.ly/2Ktwbbs
Hurry, there is only space for 15 teachers!
The Power, Structural, and Technical Program of Study focused technical skill workshop offerings provided by NDE this summer. Registration is currently open and will close on May 10th. Click this link and see all the workshop offerings/details and begin your registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kNKyDIcbf1ZJoWbaJ_YZwWDfwbbHx2rpvlu3Sx6HLc4/edit
NDE is covering the cost for your registration fee. If you have a change in plans, ALL CANCELATIONS without penalty must be done prior to May 24th. If you cancel after May 24th or do not show up there will be a $50 cancelation fee. There is a required number of registrants to offer a workshop in order to pay for the instructor and any materials used.
Do you want to earn graduate credit for the above workshops with UNL? Tuition is approximately $840 for the 2 credit hour classes. You will need to complete registration by July 14, 2019:
- Be a graduate student at UNL. If you are not currently a UNL graduate student, follow the instructions at this link: https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/teachneb
- Obtain a permission code from Christina Franklin at [email protected] . You will need to provide her with the class number, which is ALEC 893, and the UNL section number. The section number is located next to the workshop you have selected. Christina will send you a permission code to register for the graduate course at UNL.
- Register for the UNL class through the MyRed online registration system at the My RED Online Portal.
The Beginning Teacher Institute (BTI) is designed for teachers who have completed their first through third year of Career and Technical Education instruction. The core purposes of the 2019 BTI are:
- Explore and define your CTE Program.
- Learn how to facilitate classroom and laboratory experiences with students.
- Internalize and practice classroom management strategies.
BTI will take place July 15-17, 2019 in Lincoln. Registration Deadline is May 15, 2019.
Attendees will have mileage and meal reimbursement as well as lodging will be provided by NDE.
For additional information visit our website at https://www.education.ne.gov/nce/ under Conferences, Workshops, and Special Events. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN3Exg8fvJOj2W6nVUScHTsZRY6bapleeP5-MvUeKRN2JP7Q/viewform?usp=sf_link
Online, In-Person, and On-Site, Throughout the School Year
Nebraska Ag Ed State Staff offers professional development and support for teachers new to teaching agriculture in Nebraska throughout the school year. This support includes:
- Monthly Zoom online meetings hosted by NDE Staff beginning in August 2019
- Fall Meeting along-side Ag Ed Symposium in November 2019
- Spring Meeting along-side 212/360 Conference in February 2020
- Beginning Teacher Institute (July 15-17, 2019) in Lincoln hosted at no cost to participants by NDE
Monthly Meetings
Monthly meetings are designed around a “just in time” philosophy based on the needs and upcoming events of a beginning agricultural education teacher. Each month you will be invited to join a meeting to discuss what is currently happening in Ag Ed, FFA, and CTE in general. The meetings will be recorded and shared out so you can watch them later if you are unable to join the live meeting.
Events Offered by Partner Organizations
How can ag biotechnology contribute to food security? Learn about the latest seed research, the impact of environmental issues and sustainability, participate in lessons designed to meet the Nebraska science standards, meet industry experts, and get free classroom materials. Food costs are covered by the Nebraska Corn Board.
Participants are encouraged to come and bring colleagues to this one-day event that will introduce ALL PARTICIPANTS to biotech skills and how they are incorporated into agriculture, food science and biofuels. Industry speakers will emphasize the use of biotechnology tools in agricultural research and development.
Each teacher will receive over $300 worth of classroom lab supplies. 8 hours of contact time will be awarded for the 1 day workshop.
PLEASE NOTE: These workshops are geared toward middle and high school teachers. The content covered is above the level of elementary grades science.
Notify Dr. Lloyd Bell at [email protected] by Wednesday, May 15th of you’re interested in participating in this workshop . A $25 registration fee will be required. For those who register, a brief needs assessment will follow your registration to better define the workshop content.
Enhancing Your Welding Instruction, June 27-28, Blue Hill, NE
Blue Hill Agricultural Education Welding Lab
Melissa Bonifas
Melissa Bonifas and her father, Jon Moore, an accomplished welding entrepreneur, conduct the workshop and explore and discuss questions you need answered. Significant hands-on time is spent in the areas of SMAW, MIG and O/A welding to practice technique and build confidence. This workshop will be limited to the first 12 applicants and designed for both pre-service (undergraduates) as well as in-service instructors desiring to enhance basic welding instructional confidence. Opportunity may be available for graduate credit but will require independent study activity in addition to workshop completion.
Excellence in Ag Sciences Day will be June 13, 2019 at the State Fairgrounds in Grand Island, again in the Raising Nebraska building. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. (CST) Program starting at 8:50 and concluding by 4:00 p.m.
Teachers will experience two educational games focused on the corn-water-ethanol-beef (CWEB) system nexus. Provided lessons and resources equip students to develop systems thinking skills through exploration of the food-energy-water nexus, build interest in STEM-related agricultural careers, and gain understanding of the role of technology in sustainable agricultural production.
Stipends will be available, a free board game will be given to participants which can be used in the classroom, along with free access to an online game simulation. The focus is on ag sustainability. Lunch will be provided.
Please register by June 1st for planning purposes.
Contact Brandy VanDeWalle at [email protected] with any questions.
Are you needing that “pick-me-up” to rejuvenate your classroom instruction? Do your lessons need to be invigorated and made student centered? Do you need a community of like-minded peers to support and lift you up in your profession? Are you looking for a conference that will change your life? If you answered yes to any of the above, then the Delta Conference is for you! Check out the flyer that is attached. Kansas has graciously opened a few spots for Nebraska teachers. Registration is a very low $350 for Nebraska teachers.
Attached is information about the Delta Conference to be held this June 11 – 15 at NCKTC in Beloit. Registration deadline is May 1, 2019.
Please go to the registration site at: https://www.smokyhill.org/vnews/display.v/ART/56b3be630730c?in_archive=1