A Project of the Department of Education at Cornell University

Staff:

Eric Larsen, Sr. Professional Development Specialist
Teacher Services
(607)254-6385, eal86@cornell.edu

Shari L. Lighthall, Professional Development Specialist
Teacher Services
(315) 346-1222, lsc1@cornell.edu

Juleah Tolosky, NY State FFA Executive Secretary
Youth Program Specialist
(607) 254-2880, jft25@cornell.edu


Melissa Snyder, program support
(607)255-9252, ms286@cornell.edu

The goal of Agricultural Education Outreach is to support and advise local agriculture education programs in public schools to that these programs may better serve the New York State economy by preparing individuals for career opportunities in the food and fiber system and related allied fields. To achieve this purpose, the following objectives have been identified:

• Enhance the quality of agriculture education programs for secondary and postsecondary agriculture educators through professional development and new curricula.

• Promote the value of agriculture programs to schools that do not offer it.

• Promote agriculture education career opportunities to a wide range of nontraditional audiences.

• Recruit candidates for agriculture education certification to meet the critical need for teachers to fill vacancies and new position openings.

• Provide support to new professionals through professional development and other programs that meet their specific needs.

• Provide the leadership and coordination of resources needed for local program certification for a technical education endorsement on the Regents Diploma of students completing a program sequence.

• Provide leadership opportunities in the New York Association of the FFA for all agriculture students grades seven through twelve and Postsecondary Agriculture Students’ Organization (PAS).