2021 - 2026 Strategic Priorities
Recruit, prepare, retain, and support agricultural educators
Recruit and retain future agricultural educators at all levels, middle school through university.
Prepare and support lateral entry and beginning agricultural educators.
Develop models of preparation and licensure of agricultural educators, including necessary coursework, experience, and collaboration/ alignment among teacher preparation programs.
Develop leaders among agricultural educators at all levels across Agricultural Education Related Organizations (AERO).
Include all people and leverage diverse approaches
Measure the presence and impact of current agriculture teachers from diverse backgrounds and learn from them.
Recruit and retain teachers from diverse backgrounds and enable successful transitions from college to the classroom.
Develop educational models and curricula that appeal to suburban/urban students.
Elevate and emphasize inclusion, diversity, and equity of agricultural education programs, students, teachers, and professionals.
Engage and transition students to be leaders and advocates in/for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) and related industries
Reinforce and improve work-based learning.
Develop industry-valued and industry-validated certifications and credentials for students.
Enhance agricultural education’s contribution to AFNR systems.
Enhance agricultural education’s contribution to school academics, community service, and leadership.
Develop collaborations within and beyond our agricultural education community
Increase communication and collaboration among AERO groups to move agricultural education forward.
Provide leadership for agricultural education.
Gather metrics and publicize information that measures the success, value, and importance of agricultural education.