Skip to main content

New York Agriculture in the Classroom

Programs

Teacher of the Year

Each year, we celebrate an outstanding New York teacher who uses agricultural literacy concepts in the classroom to such an extent as to merit statewide recognition. Winning teachers receive an expense paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, held in a different location in the United States each year. The 2025 winner will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to be recognized for their accomplishments. For their excellence in teaching about and utilizing agriculture in their classroom, the winning teacher will have the opportunity to:

  • Submit an application for the National Agriculture in the Classroom Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture award sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  • Attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 23-26, 2025, with expenses paid.
  • Receive at-school recognition of the teacher and their accomplishments.

Eligibility

  • Certified teachers, or a team of teachers, currently engaged in classroom instruction in the Pre-K through 12 levels. Certified agriculture teachers are not eligible.
  • Teachers must be integrating agricultural concepts into traditionally non-agricultural curricula,
  • Providing opportunities for students to engage in and study about agriculture,
  • And/or utilizing innovative approaches to advancing agricultural literacy in the classroom.
  • The teacher does not necessarily need to be currently using NYAITC curriculum or programs.
  • Applicants may be self-nominated, or an application could come from an individual or a team of teachers working together.
DUE October 25, 2024 at 11:45 pm

Review Process

Applications will be evaluated by a review committee who will score based on a rubric of 100 possible points. Scores will be averaged for each application.

Rubric

25 points - Creativity and Utilization of Agricultural Information

  • The degree to which sound food and fiber concepts have been infused into the classroom curriculum.
  • References should be made to the creative methods utilized in advancing student learning.

25 points - Interdisciplinary Approach

  • The degree to which agricultural concepts have been applied in a variety of subjects or topics.
  • Value will be placed on the approach which teaches agriculture across the curriculum or subject.

25 points - Student Impact

  • Evidence of positive change in behavior, student attitudes and overall learning.

25 Points - Overall Impact, Longevity of the Program

  • Evidence of historical and new agricultural concepts introduced. This may include food systems.
  • Sustainable living, local agriculture, carbon footprint, community impact, nutrition, and more.

Meet Our Teacher of the Year

2024 Teacher of the Year – Monica Chamberlain

New York Agriculture in the Classroom's Teacher of the Year Award celebrates remarkable teachers who embody a passion for teaching through a lens of agriculture in their curriculum each year. We are proud to announce Monica Chamberlain, a sixth-grade teacher at Hamilton Central School, as the 2024 Teacher of the Year. Monica delivers real world, authentic learning experiences for her students by giving them open-ended opportunities to develop an awareness of the world around them, and an inner voice asking, "how can you make a positive impact in your world?".


Past Winners