2021 - 2026 Strategic Priorities

A girl and a boy planting a small plant in the soil while others watch from behind a fence and mingle in the background.

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).

Group of diverse young people and adults participating in a team-building activity outdoors, placing their hands together in a huddle on a grassy field.

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.

Group of four people, including three young women and one older man, observing seedlings in trays inside a greenhouse. The man holds a laptop, and the people are smiling and looking at the plants.

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.

Three students sitting on a concrete ledge under a tree, looking at a laptop and textbooks, wearing blue and white school uniforms.

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.

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