That Admin life...

Last week I went to a Mentoring Conference hosted by CATA and UC Davis (I think?) for Ag teachers. One of the workshops I participated in was related to what else you could do/become beyond the classroom. There was a Community College educator, a school administrator, and a teacher with a PhD giving the workshop. They had really interesting perspectives on what other things Ag teachers could do beside be in the classroom.

Now this might sound rude but.... We are struggling to find Ag teachers all over the state, so why would we want any decent one to be lost to other careers? Especially ones that are not in the classroom, like administration?? Community Colleges? Sure yeah okay, teach agriculture at a higher level, sounds good... But become a principal, vice principal, anything remotely close to that? Heck no, no thanks, never in a million years!

Last night, we had our Sonoma Section CATA Administrator & Supporter Night. It is basically a dinner to thank admin, counselors, district staff, boosters and advisory members. I think our section does a fairly decent job with hosting the event because they always find great presenters for a discussion/education portion of the evening. However, after sitting through this dinner, all I could think was I cannot believe we have to present about the importance of agriculture education and CTE (Career & Technical Education), year after year... Isn't it obvious?

I think it is sad honestly. One of the comments during the discussion was, "you (meaning admin) would never be at this type of event with your math department, or your special ed department". How true is that?! I mean seriously? Since I always take my token English teacher to events like this, I asked her what she thought. As always for her, attending "Ag things" gets her jazzed because they do not do things in regular education like we do in Ag education. Rarely, if ever, do English teachers from multiple schools in the county, get together to catch up, hangout or have meetings... But in Ag we do!

So it begs the question, why would someone go into administration? To make things better? Give their opinion? Stand up for a specific demographic? Make a difference?

YOU can do that as a teacher!!! Hello people!

Ag Education is a rare, wild, tenacious, and energetic beast. But it also fights for kids, teaches real skill, makes public speakers, encourages academics, and changes lives. Being an Ag teacher allows me to watch kids change so much! Sometimes overnight, sometimes over four years. But the change is inevitable. I'm not sure administrator can say the same about their job. Which makes me sad for them. They have to worry about all these balls in the air and rarely have the opportunity to appreciate one program over another, let alone specific students.

Ag kids are the coolest kids. No matter the school, district, or region, Ag kids understand how to be productive. We need more kids like that. I wish administration could say the same about every program on campus.

This sums up Ag education perfectly...

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." Martin Luther King, Jr.

These are what cool kids look like! Give kids purpose and watch all the amazing things they do in and outside the classroom!