I'd like to thank the academy...

Well, while trying to beat the 108* heat and avoid things I should be doing like planning for next year's classes, I figured I'd write about something amazing.

During the CATA (California Ag Teacher's Assoc.) conference I attended last week, my friends and I attended the awards banquet dinner. This year's theme was Masquerade which I thought was pretty fun. The banquet is always a highlight of the conference, as during the evening, the CATA gives awards to teachers and programs throughout the state.

Much to my surprise, I was awarded with the Outstanding Single Person Department award. While I am not a huge fan of recognition or compliments, I am extremely proud of this honor. I know I have worked hard the past two years to completely turn around the agriculture department and FFA chapter at my school.

One of the things I am most proud of, is who got to present me with the award. It was perfect timing as the presenter changes each year. To me, having Mr. Albiani present my award, make me laugh during the picture and tell me congratulations, was the biggest honor of all...

Almost 5 years ago, I had completely lost hope of getting a job in the agriculture teaching profession. I was not the #1 pick coming out of the credential program, I had applied to 25+ jobs with very few interviews and while most of my credential cronies were beginning the school year, I was going to move back to Ukiah to find a regular job.

In September, I applied for a long-term substitute job at Elk Grove High School. I actually got an interview, and ended up getting the job. Mr. Albiani, Ms. Mangan (Schager), and the principal either were completely crazy that day or believed in me more than I believed in myself.

Mr. Mooney has referred to that year, as Disneyland for me. While I'm sure he means something else, I like to think of that year as Disneyland too! Mostly, because it is one of my favorite places. I learned more in that year than I had hoped for and am eternally grateful for Mr. Albiani and the EG crew for taking a chance on me and not getting too upset for when I screwed things up.

Receiving the Outstanding Single Person Department award was an honor. But to me, Mr. Albiani handing me that plaque was the best part. It was as if he was telling me "You did good". The whole EG crew has kept me since my long-term sub gig... As evidence by going to dinner with them every night while at conference.

Being a single person department is hard. No doubt about it. But finding people who continue to mentor, chat and give advice when needed is the reason I have made it as a single person department. So the award wasn't just for me... It was for every person (Ag teacher) who has ever helped me. While there are too many to name, I want to say THANK YOU to every person who ever helped me in some way, shape or form.

Since the banquet, teachers and friends have continued to ask, "how does it feel?" The truth is... It feels the same. I don't work harder than others, in a single person department, I just filled out the application and was picked. There are so many outstanding Ag programs in the state, some run by the best teachers I have ever met. These teachers are also very humble and would never think what they do, is extraordinary... But they are!!!
Fort Bragg, Anderson Valley, Delano, Sebastopol, etc. Ya'll rock my socks... You are amazing!

For now, my plan is to continue doing the most and best I can for my students. While calling, texting, emailing, and talking to the best in the business to get help (or to collaborate with-- educationise speak) when needed. 

All the department award recipients 

The Sonoma Section in the banquet photo booth... 

Summer Conference

Meetings, food, familiar faces and more meetings... This may not sound like the ultimate fun bus but if you happen to be an Ag teacher, this may sound pretty similar to our CATA Summer Conference. 

For me, it's my favorite trip ALL frickin year... Mostly because I live in the North Coast Region and that means I live about 300+ miles from my credential class peeps (yeah we're still friends and hangout). While I'm not a huge fan of driving to Cal Poly to see my Fresno State friends, I'll do just about anything to see these amazing people. In all seriousness, at the conference, we attend professional sessions learning how we can do more as Ag teachers. 

The trend in Ag Education seems to focus on how we can maintain profession sustainability while planning for the future.  How can we continue to plow (haha pun intended) through the education hold ups and politics to reach kids and make a difference? What else can we fit in to a 24 hour period to go big, both for ourselves and our students? How can we serve others? How can we collaborate to work together and work smarter not harder? 

Fortunately, I was able to be part of a program this year to figure out how we are going to plan for our profession in the year 2030. It was a really great experience, meeting with teachers of all levels of experience, from all over the state. It's interesting to see how we separately have individual wants and needs and expectations but as a whole those desires become so similar and uniform. During conference today, there were reports of the 2030 group and how we have progressed towards goals set back in December. We also did an instant survey after the report with results projected. The results were kind of surprising to me. The 2030 group looked at four main areas: Curriculum, Mentoring, SAE and Funding. One of the questions of the survey asked if there are issues in our profession that are not being addressed by those four areas. There were numerous live result answers that included "leadership" "working together" and "ethics". Here we are sitting in a conference put on by Ag teachers for Ag teachers in a professional manner encouraging others to do more in the profession and people are questioning leadership, teamwork and ethics?! What the heck? 

I feel like this conference is the epitome of leadership and teamwork and by attending the conference you're kind of setting stage for the whole year as an Ag teacher. What could be important to impact our profession in a state wide capacity? I have always felt that by attending conference, I'm working to take a leadership role. Not only for myself, my section and my region but also my students. If I'm not willing to put myself out there and try new things and do more in a leadership capacity, why should they ever try? What type of role model and what message am I sending to them if I don't? My favorite part of the conference is the camaraderie among Ag teachers. Everyone sticks together, whether it's by the alumni lunch you attend or the regional meeting you sit in-- there's a spot for everyone. 

I've had the luxury of teaching in three different regions. From student teaching, to a year of long-term subbing to my current position. I think this has profoundly impacted the type of experience I have a conference.  I feel like I know more people than I can even say hello to in a day. I try to stop and chat with as many as possible but there's not enough time. I think that's what our profession needs more of. Time to sit around and hang out with other people, who do the same thing, know what we are going through and who can empathize with the amount of work that we put in for our students. 

I love sitting and catching up with the girls that I went through the credential program with.  People probably think we're a little nutty because we still see each other, hang out, talk, eat lunch and dinner together, go to the bar together and whatnot.  But we developed bonds during student teaching and the credential program. We all understood that we were there for each other and we know that we are always still just a phone call away. 

Our guest speaker today made a statement about how if you don't love it or if you want to complain about it then get out. She was referring to our profession.  And I couldn't agree more with her. The people who are negative or complain about everything that we do suck the life out of everyone... Don't be a Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy! 

We have a great profession that provides great opportunities and we need to appreciate that more on a daily basis!! 

Just in case you didn't know: