From The Council
New Staffing Assistance for The Council
The National Council for Agricultural Education has made a few changes to its staffing and program management. Tony Small, with National FFA, is now serving as The Council’s managing director for staffing and program management, assisted by Donna Kemp, also with National FFA.
The contact for submitting information to be included in the Monday Morning Monitor is now Julie Fritsch, with NAAE. If you have anything you would like to put in the MMM, please email it to Julie at jfritsch.naae@uky.edu by the end of the day each Friday. Any questions about the MMM can be directed to Julie.
Any questions about other Council programs or initiatives should be directed to Tony Small, tsmall@ffa.org or Council president Ray Nash, rnash@alcorn.k12.ms.us.
From FFA
Agriscience Deadlines
All Agriscience Fair declarations should have been completed by June 1. Don’t forget to certify your entries by Aug. 15. Submission of fair applications with all documentation attached must be postmarked to the National FFA Center on or before Aug. 15. This includes your waiver forms.
PALS resources now online
Go to ffa.learn.com to find all of the updated, free PALS lessons. These are great to use in your chapter’s mentoring program to increase both the mentor’s and mentee’s agricultural literacy and leadership skills.
Nominations for 2011 National Officer Nominating Committee open through Aug. 1
The National FFA is currently accepting nominations for student members to serve on the 2011 National Officer Nominating Committee during the national FFA convention this October. This group will be responsible for evaluating all national officer candidates and selecting those who will serve for 2011-2012. To nominate a deserving individual, log in to MyFFA and look for the National Officer Nominating Committee section. Click on the link and follow all instructions to submit your nominee. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 1.
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From NAAE
Teach Ag Ambassadors
NAAE is seeking the nation’s most outstanding agricultural education majors to represent the profession as National Teach Ag Ambassadors at the 2011 National FFA Convention career show, October 19-21 in Indianapolis. http://www.naae.org/TeachAg/ambassadors.php
2011 NAAE Convention
Network with ag teachers from all over the U.S. at the 2011 NAAE Convention. We'll have professional development workshops, opportunities to get involved in NAAE at the regional and national levels, and time to recognize and reward outstanding agricultural educators. Attend this convention and come away with a year's worth of ideas and tools for your program.
On Communities of Practice
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From CAST
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Friday Notes newsletter includes key stories regarding animals, plants, food safety, international issues, and general topics.
Academic papers and agricultural reports are also available for free download at the CAST website (http://www.cast-science.org/). Click HERE to access the July 15 issue of CAST Friday Notes.
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From ACTE
Perkins Reauthorization Input
CTE is beginning the process of collecting information from members related to the next reauthorization of Perkins, which could occur as early as 2012. We need your input! Please respond to the following questions and check back regularly for new polls. You may also leave more detailed comments on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
ACTE Releases Paper on How Career, Technocal Student Organizations Expand Career Readiness for Students
ACTE has recently released “Expanding Career Readiness Through Career and Technical Student Organizations.” The paper illustrates how students participating in career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) strengthen their career readiness through co-curricular programming in such areas as leadership development, academic and career development, professional development and community service.
For more information and to access the paper, visit this link.
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From NASDCTEc
Silver Spring, MD - (July 13, 2011) Key states are spearheading efforts to raise the bar on career technical education (CTE) through comprehensive strategies and statewide legislation to provide students with a clear path from secondary to postsecondary education, according to a new issue brief by the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc).
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From U.S. Dept. of Education
U.S. Department of Education Releases 2011 Application for Promise Neighborhoods Program, Includes New Implementation Grants and Second Round of Planning Grants
$30 Million Now Available to Plan and Develop Cradle-to-Career Services with Great Schools at Center
The U.S. Department of Education released today the application for the second phase of the Promise Neighborhoods program, including new implementation grants and a second round of planning grants, totaling $30 million. Nonprofits, institutions of higher education and Indian tribes are eligible to apply for funds to develop or execute plans that will improve educational and developmental outcomes for students in distressed neighborhoods.
The Department expects to award first-year funds for four to six implementation grants with an estimated grant award of $4 million to $6 million. Implementation grantees will receive annual grants over a period of three to five years with total awards ranging from $12 million to $30 million. Remaining 2011 funds will go toward 10 new one-year planning grants with an estimated grant award of $500,000.
Promise Neighborhoods grants will provide critical support for comprehensive services ranging from early learning to college and career, including programs to improve the health, safety, and stability of neighborhoods, as well as to boost family engagement in student learning. President Obama's fiscal year 2012 budget requests $150 million to provide continued funding support to implementation grantees in addition to funding a new round of planning and implementation grants.
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From U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Highlights School Meal Improvements to National School Nutrition Advocates USDA Publishes Findings on National Farm to School Effort that Provides New Economic Opportunities for Farmers
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 12, 2011 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today highlighted the importance of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and announced the findings of USDA's first Farm to School report during the 2011 School Nutrition Association national convention. Merrigan delivered remarks to thousands of school nutrition professionals at the three-day event which provided an opportunity to discuss the Obama administration's efforts to improve the health and nutrition of meals served through the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs.
"By working closely with school nutrition professionals, the Obama Administration is promoting initiatives that provide kids with access to nutritious foods and information to teach them healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime" said Merrigan. "Farm to school programs are a great way to bring more fresh, local produce into school cafeterias and support local farmers as well. Many schools are also using Farm to School programs to teach students where their food comes from through nutrition education." Read More
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