From NAAE

Teach Ag Video Now Available
Watch and share this short video about the great career of teaching agriculture. Click here to watch in Flash or download from the NAAE website. Also available on YouTube.

New Feature: Spotlight on Agricultural Education
Hear first-hand from agriculture teachers, ag education students, and agribusiness leaders why agricultural education is so important, why they chose to teach, and why you should consider a career in agricultural education. Go to spotlights on naae.org/teachag

News & Views - Teacher Recruitment Edition
In this edition of the NAAE newsletter:

• National Teach Ag Day
• NAAE Convention Recap
• New NAAE Leadership
• Ideas Unlimited - Metal Horse Project
• ...and more!

Read News & Views

From The Council

The Case for CASE
President Obama and business and industry call for more science, technology, engineering and math skills integrated into education. There is a call for greater support and professional development for our teachers and the need to increase college enrollments.  CASE addresses each of the areas indentified by the President. The timing for the Curriculum in Agricultural Science Education (CASE) is perfect. The National Council for Agricultural Education is ahead of this ‘wave,’ with the development of the CASE program well underway. 

I will strive to keep you connected to the latest information about CASE and ask for your questions, concerns, suggestions and success stories.  This month, let’s focus teachers, teacher educators and state staff nationwide on the registration process for a CASE Institute at one of seven colleges and universities around the country this summer.  Registrants must have a CASE School District Agreement signed and submitted to CASE staff before registering online.  The deadline is April 1st.  Visit  www.case4learning.org to learn more about CASE pathways, sequence of courses being developed, required class/lab equipment and supplies, sample lessons, costs and more. 

Now is the time for CASE!!

Nancy J. Trivette
Chair, CASE committee
National Council for Agricultural Education

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From FFA

Directed Lab/SAE Hours:
In reviewing applications for awards and degrees, applicants sometimes present a completely unrealistic number of hours dedicated to directed lab/SAE.  In a single year, a person working a full time 40 hour per week job will work a total 2080 hours    (52 weeks X 40 hours  =   2,080).   In order to assist students and teachers in evaluating students Directed Lab/Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) hours, it is important to consider the hours a student must also dedicate to school, sleep, etc. Click here for more detailed information.

Dates and Locations for International Collegiate Ag Leadership (I-CAL) Program Just Announced!
The 2010 I-CAL program will be located in Malaysia and Taiwan.  The program will hold orientation on Sunday, May 16th and will leave for Asia on Monday, May 17th and will return to the US on Friday, May 29th! 

The International Collegiate Ag Leadership (I-CAL) program travels overseas each year to help twelve college students better understand international agriculture trade and marketing.  The program is designed for students to become immersed in international agriculture and to acquire a unique cultural experience. 

Applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2010 and can be found at www.ffa.org/collegiate.  Cost of the program varies each year based on international airfare; however costs each year typically range from $1,600-$2,000.  Please contact Marty Tatman with any questions at mtatman@ffa.org.  

The I-CAL program is sponsored by the US Grains Foundation as a special project of the National FFA Foundation

2010 Convention Housing
Attention Advisors: 2010 Convention Housing is now open.

2010 National FFA Week
The 2010 National FFA Week planning materials are available at www.ffa.org/ffaweek. Find the official FFA Week Planning Guide, logos, certificates, helpful templates and much more. These tools and resources are great for members to download as they plan for a great FFA Week in February.

Triscuit Grants
The deadline for the Triscuit Cereal Grain Grants has been extended to February 15, 2010. These grants are based on financial need and open to FFA members between the ages of 14-17. There are eight $1,000 grants still available. The application is short and easy to complete. To download the application visit the SAE page: http://www.ffa.org/index.cfm?method=c_programs.SAE

National FFA Foundation Executive Director Position
Due to the expanding role of the foundation in building support for agricultural education through corporate sponsorship, individual giving and foundation grants has created a need for a broader set of skills and management experience for the executive director.

Against these higher expectations, the Trustees are electing to conduct another executive search. In the meantime, Corporate Giving Team Leader Todd Greenwood will serve as officer in charge during the process.  Dennis Sargent will step down from his interim position and leave the foundation.  Dennis has served the foundation with great energy and passion, and we salute him for his contributions and commitment to agricultural education and FFA.  Please direct all future correspondence regarding the National FFA Foundation to Todd at tgreenwood@ffa.org until an interim executive director is identified.

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From ACTE

National Policy Seminar
Mark your calendars for the 2010 National Policy Seminar, March 8-10 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Virginia. Registration (print form) is now open! Make hotel reservations here until February 12, 2010.

NPS will update you on all the important legislative, regulatory and political activities of 2009 related to CTE and prepare you for policy action in 2010. You will learn how the new Administration and Congress addressed CTE issues and how you can take advantage of these opportunities for your school programs. Click here to view the tentative agenda.

February Book of the Month
Reading to Learn in Secondary Classrooms
By Daniel M. Perna and Sarah F. Mahurt
Students do not learn to read only in the primary grades. This text will help teachers improve students' content learning and reading ability with easy-to-implement strategies like reciprocal teaching, jigsaw reading and think-alouds. 

Reading to Learn was one of the Annual Convention's best sellers!

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From US Department of Education

Budget and ESEA Reauthorization
Read Secretary Duncan’s message to the education community about the budget and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/01/duncan-new-investment-will-fuel-reform-and-boost-economy/

Race to the Top: 41 Applications
40 states and the District of Columbia submitted applications to compete in Phase 1 of Race to the Top. President Obama announced plans to expand the program.
READ MORE

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