Candice Franks, agricultural educator at Badger High School in Lake Geneva, is one of six individuals nationwide who received the Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award, given at the National Association of Agricultural Educators annual convention in New Orleans on Nov. 19.
The National Agriscience Teacher of the Year award recognizes teachers who have inspired and enlightened their students through engaging and interactive lessons in the science of agriculture.
Franks, who is in her 10th year of teaching, teaches agriscience and science courses including veterinary science, biotechnology, agriscience, animal science and aquaculture. She bases her competency goals for the students on the career and college readiness goals for the 21st century and aligns her courses with typical academic core standards.
Franks focuses on encouraging her students to embrace higher level thinking and understands that every student learns in a different way. She has students participate in service projects to learn about their community and world and believes this will lead them to become future productive citizens.
Franks finds working with student teachers to be an excellent opportunity to mentor young instructors who are starting in the education field. She focuses on classroom management, inquiry-based lessons and teaching multiple levels when guiding student teachers.
“As a fellow agricultural science instructor in a neighboring school district, I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with Candice as she has also had a positive impact on my professional growth. I, without a doubt, consider the Agricultural Sciences Department of Badger High School a premier model of an agricultural education department that would work not only in Wisconsin but across the country,” said David Kruse, agricultural educator at Elkhorn Area High School.
Students in her program have many opportunities to enhance their skills and experience by participating in on-site or off-site internships. Also, students are able to earn certificates and high school credit if they complete internships and apprenticeships. Franks believes internships provide a pathway for students directly into the career field of their choice and help them discover new job opportunities.
Each of the six National Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award winners was recognized at the National Association of Agricultural Educators convention. PotashCorp sponsors the National Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
