The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) is dedicated to providing high-quality professional development opportunities for agriculture teachers at every age and every stage of their careers. NAAE offers states the opportunity to provide their ag teachers well-established programs that deliver transformative professional growth experiences, along with standalone workshops that can be integrated into state professional development conferences.
If you are interested in hosting one of these programs within your state, please complete the NAAE Regional/State Institute Interest Survey.
If you would like to learn more about the programs and workshops available, please see below:
The NAAE Agriscience Inquiry Institute (NAAE Ag I2) was developed out of the need for more state focused professional development opportunities related to inquiry-based teaching and the enhancement of science in agricultural education. The format and core of the state NAAE Ag I2 is based on the National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy (NATAA).
The NAAE Agriscience Inquiry Institute (NAAE Ag I2) seeks to:
AgI2 Program Development
NAAE Ag I2 professional development programs are conducted at the state level. NAAE will provide programming support to assist with the planning and implementation of the state Ag I2. A team of National Agriscience Teacher Ambassadors from the state, NAAE, and a National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Mentor Facilitator will plan and implement the program on the state level.
AgI2 Format
National Agriscience Teacher Ambassadors from the state, NAAE, and National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Mentor Facilitator will present at least 15 hours of high quality professional development and provide follow up for the program.
Questions related to AgI2 may be directed to Cameron Earlywine.
We also have several standalone agriscience workshops that can amplify your current offerings at your state conferences. Please check with Cameron Earlywine to determine the best fit for your state.
Retaining quality experienced teachers is important to the future of agricultural education. In 2013, NAAE developed XLR8 — the eXcellence in Leadership for Retention professional development program — to meet the needs of mid-career agriculture teachers.
The overall goals of this program include:
XLR8 Format:
Questions related to XLR8 may be directed to Cameron Earlywine.
The NAAE Early Career Elements program was developed to assist with early career teacher retention and wellbeing. The format of this program is based similarly to NAAE Teachers Turn the Key program. Teachers Turn the Key is one of NAAE's oldest and long-standing programs. This program seeks to engage professionals in exploration of their purpose, passion, and professionalism. This cohort experience invites agriculture teachers who are in their 1st-5th year of teaching agriculture. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of their purpose, tools to make life as an agriculture teacher easier, and a support system of colleagues that will continue to encourage participants long after the program concludes State programs will be facilitated by trained NAAE presenters to deliver reflective and impactful professional development activities.
Objectives of Program
The NAAE Early Career Elements Program seeks to:
Early Career Elements Format:
Questions related to Early Career Elements may be directed to Ashley Rogers
The NAAE Ag Teacher Resiliency program was developed as part of the NAAE's Wise & Well Initiatives with the main goal of assisting teachers with building resilience within themselves to ensure success and longevity in the profession. NAAE understands that being an agriculture teacher is demanding but important work, therefore, it is critical to build resilience, especially for challenging times. This program focuses on building resiliency through active learning, self reflection, and engaging in a network of agricultural educators. This program is designed to equip teachers with the tools to maintain a satisfying career through positive and challenging times.
Objectives of Program
The NAAE Ag Teacher Resiliency Program seeks to:
Development of Program:
The NAAE Ag Teacher Resiliency program is a new professional development learning opportunity for states that can be vital to the retention of current ag teachers in the profession. NAAE facilitators will implement this professional development program on the state level.
Teacher Resiliency Format:
NAAE will provide programming support and funding to assist with the planning and implementation to meet the brand and quality standards developed by NAAE for the NAAE Ag Teacher Resiliency program.
Teacher Resiliency Workshop Title:
Growing Strong: Building Resilience as an Ag Educator presented by NAAE
Workshop Description:
Being an ag teacher is demanding work, but it’s also some of the most meaningful work out there. Between long hours, competitions, classroom management, and community commitments, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. But just like the crops and students we nurture, we can grow stronger through challenges.
Join us for an engaging, supportive session focused on building your personal and professional resilience. You’ll explore ways to rediscovering joy in your teaching. Come connect with fellow ag educators, share experiences, and leave re-energized with tools and ideas to sustain a fulfilling career, through every season of teaching.
**New for 2026
Additional teacher resiliency workshops can be added to your state's lineup of professional development workshops. The following workshops can be requested for 2026:
Saying No, So You Can Say Yes to the Most Important Things presented by NAAE
Workshop Description:
Often times, we get caught up in the slippery slope of saying yes to everything that comes on to our plate. We do things just because they have always been done that way. But with every yes, we ultimately are saying no to something else. Let’s spend some time during the session focusing on our purpose and discussing why it is important to us as ag ed professionals to understand how we can say no so we can say yes to the most important things that will advance our careers and personal lives.
Target Audience: Ag educators is all stages of their career.
Length: 60 - 90 minutes standalone session
Refilling Your Ag Teacher Bucket: From Empty to Recharged presented by NAAE
Workshop Description:
As an agricultural educator, you pour your time, energy, and passion into your students, your program, and your community. But what happens when your own bucket runs dry? This engaging and interactive workshop will help you recognize the signs of burnout, explore strategies to reignite your passion, and discover ways to maintain balance in your career. Through reflection, discussion, and practical takeaways, you’ll leave with a refreshed mindset and actionable steps to keep your Ag teacher bucket full and ensuring you stay motivated, fulfilled, and recharged for the rewarding work you do every day.
Target Audience: Ag educators is all stages of their career.
Length: 60 - 90 minutes standalone session
Questions related to Teacher Resiliency may be directed to Ashley Rogers.
The Future Agriscience Teacher (FAST) Symposium is a professional development experience for preservice agricultural education majors which provides customized professional development, networking, and mentoring with current and future agriculture teachers from across the country.
One major component of the FAST Programming is the inquiry-based teaching methods. NAAE has over 15 years of success cultivating inquiry-based learning in agricultural education through the NAAE National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador program. This component serves to train preservice teachers on how to enhance the science that is already present within their curriculum pertaining to the agriculture industry, as well as develop students as problem solvers and thinkers through the inquiry-based teaching method. The training includes industry related labs with a high amount of science content using the "inquiry-based" approach to student learning.
Additional components of the program will include information about NAAE and the benefits of being an NAAE member, content specific curriculum that highlights and promotes key aspects of the agricultural industry, information to help participants advocate for support of their agricultural program, assistance with transitioning to the classroom, and material to help determine priorities of a new teacher.
Objectives of Program
Questions related to FAST may be directed to Cameron Earlywine.
My Local Cooperative is an initiative of the National Association of Agricultural Educators with funding support from the CHS Foundation as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
The mission of this initiative is to advance agriculture cooperatives by raising awareness of the cooperative business model, showcasing cooperative career opportunities, and highlighting the critical role that cooperatives play in strengthening agriculture and our local communities.
Questions related to My Local Cooperative may be directed to Ashley Rogers
