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New York Agriculture in the Classroom

Programs

2022 Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to our 2022 NYAITC Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Bailey!
Jennifer Bailey

New York Agriculture in the Classroom recognizes an exceptional teacher who incorporates learning through a lens of agriculture into their curriculum each year with the Teacher of the Year Award. We are pleased to announce Jennifer Bailey, a second-grade teacher at Argyle Central School, as the 2022 New York Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. Bailey possesses an unstoppable commitment to integrating agricultural concepts into her curriculum and is well-deserving of this recognition.

Bailey educates her students about agriculture by featuring a wide variety of in-class speakers, agriculturally-focused literature, and student-centered lessons that promote rich discussions about food and agriculture systems locally and globally. Bailey introduced garden beds and vermicomposting to demonstrate how agriculture affects the environment, and how the environment we interact with impacts other living organisms.

For her outstanding merit, Jennifer Bailey was chosen to represent New York Agriculture in the Classroom as an applicant for the 2022 USDA-NIFA National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award. The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO), U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and Farm Credit partner each year to honor teachers in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (Pre-K-12) from around the country for the innovative ways they use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies, STEM, STEAM and more. After a rigorous application process, Bailey was chosen as one of eight educators nationally to receive this distinguishing award during the National Agriculture in Classroom Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York where she was recognized to an audience of over 700 of her peers from across the county. Bailey stood out as an educator who inspires creativity, curiosity and science exploration in her students.

Katie Carpenter, Director of New York Agriculture in the Classroom, shares, "I could not be more impressed with Jennifer Bailey's thoughtfulness and approach to her educational goals. There is purpose to her work, and that purpose is to give her students the gift of an open mind as they travel through life in their small, rural community. The passion that Jennifer holds for her work is evident in all she does, and that passion only inspires curiosity in her students. She gives her students the space to try new foods, skills, and challenges - and that makes her an exceptional teacher worthy of this award."

For her excellence in teaching through agriculture, Bailey received an expense-paid professional development experience to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York where she was recognized to an audience of over 700 of her peers from across the county.

New York Agriculture in the Classroom is proud to recognize Jennifer Bailey for her accomplishments and glad to have such a proud partner in Agriculture representing our state.

For more information about the New York Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year program, visit the website at www.agclassroom.org/ny. New York Agriculture in the Classroom is an outreach program of Cornell University. Working with classroom teachers, volunteers, and agriculture's stakeholders throughout the state, New York Agriculture in the Classroom fosters an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of our food and fiber system.


Past Winners