WAAE News
2012 WAAE Summer Conference
Dear Washington State Agriculture Teachers,
On behalf of District 1 teachers and myself I would like to invite everyone to join us in Bellingham for this year’s WAAE Summer Conference on June 24th-28th. We are truly looking forward to hosting our summer conference and providing a wide range of professional development opportunities for everyone.
We will officially kick off conference this year with an incredible guest speaker, Paul Akers, the owner of Fastcap, an international product development company based in Bellingham. He is an energetic speaker and author whose passion is helping people discover their full potential and teaching others how to implement “lean thinking”. District 1 has an amazing group of teachers that are all helping to plan this year’s summer conference. Over your five day visit WAAE members will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops designed to build your knowledge and skill in the classroom and as an FFA advisor. We will offer Quick Projects to increase everyone’s bag of tricks when teaching lessons in the classroom and tour agriculture based industry in our local area as well.
I would like to encourage everyone to plan ahead by sending in your registration forms for conference early, and making reservations at the Lakeway Inn Conference Center in Bellingham by calling 1-888-671-1011 at your earliest opportunity. Make sure to say that you are with the WAAE conference to receive your $99 room rate. Room rates will increase after May 23rd. With our conference schedule this year it is also important to remember to reserve your room until the 28th, since we will end our conference with the banquet that evening. I have attached the conference flyer, preliminary agenda and registration form.
Again, we look forward to having everyone join us in Bellingham this summer and I wish you all a very successful spring!
Tamara Whitcomb
Register for the Region 1 Conference
Follow the link below to register for the Western Region Agriculture Education Conferences.
http://groupspaces.com/waae-washaae
New member of the WSU Ag Ed Program announced!
Dear WAAE Members and WSU Agricultural Education Students,
It is with great pleasure that we announce Mr. John D. (‘JD’) Baser has been selected to join the Agricultural Education program in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University. Mr. Baser is a graduate of the WSU Ag Ed (1994 BS) and Education (2005 MS) programs. He has extensive experience as an Agriculture Educator at Pomeroy and Mount Baker High Schools, as well as administrative experience at Pomeroy and Whitman (Lewiston, ID) schools. Mr. Baser bring a unique background and perspective as a former student and practicing teacher in WA to the WSU Ag Ed program. We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with Mr. Baser in his new role as a mentor and trainer of Ag Ed teachers at WSU.
Mr. Baser will officially begin his appointment on August 16, 2011. He will be attending the WAAE conference beginning June 26. When you see him please congratulate and help us welcome JD to the program.
Sincerely,
Rich Koenig, Department ChairCrop and Soil Sciences
Kim Kidwell, Associate Dean
College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
What We Do
The WAAE seeks to advance agricultural education and promote the professional interests and growth of agriculture teachers as well as recruit and prepare students who have a desire to teach agriculture.
The organization is dedicated to developing professional pride, to nourishing a spirit of unity among classroom teachers and to recognizing members for conducting outstanding programs.
It monitors governmental affairs affecting agricultural education and assists in the development of priorities and strategies to effect federal legislation and appropriations.
Agricultural Educator Creed
I am an agricultural educator by choice and not by chance.
I believe in American agriculture; I dedicate my life to its development and the advancement of its people.
I will strive to set before my students by my deeds and actions the highest standards of citizenship for the community, state and nation.
I will endeavor to develop professionally through study, travel and exploration.
I will not knowingly wrong my fellow teachers. I will defend them as far as honesty will permit.
I will work for the advancement of agricultural education and I will defend it in my community, state and nation.
I realize that I am a part of the public school system. I will work in harmony with school authorities and other teachers of the school.
My love for youth will spur me on to impart something from my life that will help make for each of my students a full and happy future.
2012 Summer Conference
2011-2012 State FFA Calendar
Additional Ag Ed Information found at:
National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE)