Providing FREE agricultural literacy programs and resources for PreK-12 education. | |
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In this Issue:
- Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom Announces Staff Changes
- Sign up today for the Colorado Reader
- Matrix Featured Resources - Apples
- Applications Open for CoAITC Outstanding Teacher Award
- Join Us in Utah Next June as a Workshop Presenter
- Exciting New Updates to Journey 2050
- CoAITC Selects 2023-2024 Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members
- Thank You, Sponsors!
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Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom Announces Staff Changes
As the new school year has begun, Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom (CoAITC) is geared up to advance agricultural literacy, educating about the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. Recent staff changes will further assist the organization’s ability to expand its reach to more PreK-12 students and teachers across the state.
Cyndi Hofmeister of Fort Morgan, Colo., has been named the new CoAITC education program coordinator as of September 1, 2023. In this part-time role, she will organize and implement several existing and new CoAITC programs including the Literacy Project and the Journey 2050 program. She will also be responsible for leading CoAITC’s professional development events for educators. Cyndi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position. She has been a formal classroom educator at all levels, has written and reviewed curriculum for the Colorado Department of Education, has an extensive skill set in grant writing and coordinating, and has served in various leadership roles within the school system and in her community.
Lucee Church of Loma, Colo., previously held the education program coordinator role and is credited with improving the Literacy Project and expanding its reach to more than 10,000 students per year. She also assisted in developing curriculum and activities for various CoAITC projects including the Colorado Reader. Lucee’s new position of CoAITC resource coordinator will focus on filling requests for CoAITC resources and tracking demographic reach of CoAITC programs, two responsibilities she held in her previous role. This new position allows her to stay involved with CoAITC but in a smaller role, freeing up more of her time to devote to her family.
Jennifer Scharpe of Westminster, Colo., begins her seventh year as the executive director of Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom. During her tenure thus far, the organization has grown by 35 percent.
“I am enthusiastic about the future of Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom and to work as a team with Cyndi and Lucee. Together, with our board of directors and advisory board members, we are striving to reach more students and teachers across the state by connecting them to their food, fiber, fuel, and natural resources,” said Scharpe.
Read more, including Cyndi's full biosketch, in this media release.
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Applications Open for CoAITC Outstanding Teacher Award
Are you a teacher or do you know of a teacher who educates students about food and agriculture? Or perhaps that teacher works with students in a school garden or has a creative approach for connecting students to their food, fiber, fuel, and natural resources?
Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom has opened applications for its Outstanding Teacher Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize Colorado educators who teach students about the importance of agriculture.
The winning Colorado teacher will receive a $500 monetary award and have up to $1,500 of his or her related expenses paid to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom (NAITC) Conference June 24-27, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Please refer to the application for further eligibility and award information.
The deadline for application submission is November 15, 2023. For more information, contact Jennifer Scharpe, Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom executive director at Info@coagclassroom.org or 970-818-3308.
2024 Application
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Join Us in Utah Next June as a Workshop Presenter
Do you have a passion for agriculture and education? We are looking for creative, engaging, and empowering presenters who get excited when hands-on activities are required! Whether it be for a Full, 1-hour workshop, or a 20-minute, repeated (3x) Mini workshop, we want to hear your unique idea for bringing agricultural literacy into formal and informal classrooms around the nation!
National Agriculture in the Classroom is accepting workshop proposals for the 2024 national conference scheduled for June 24-27, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah, until October 6, 2023.
Apply Now!
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Matrix Featured Resources | |
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Exiting New Updates to Journey 2050
Meet Journey 2050’s newest farm family from California, United States, the Van LöbenSels!
Students will now virtually farm in Kenya, India and then choose between Canada or the United States for their final farm country.
Journey 2050’s new US farm family will expose students to new crops, investment opportunities and best management practices on their farm.
Students are exposed to various career paths and opportunities within theJourney 2050 program and new enhancements have been added to Level 6: Careers!
Career Avatar – The career avatar has been updated with a new look that includes a larger selection of customization options. These updates include more body, hair, facial features, clothing, and accessory options such as glasses and sunglasses and a wide range of color selections.
New Career Profiles – Students will have the opportunity to interact with and explore even more careers related to agriculture. The career profiles now include a Heavy-Duty Mechanic, Food Scientist, Public Relations Specialist, and Truck Driver to the level 6 careers.
Learn More!
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CoAITC Selects 2023-2024 Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members
During its first quarterly meeting of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom (CoAITC) elected four individuals to serve on its board of directors and added five new members to its advisory board. These members join the current directors and advisors, who all voluntarily serve the organization and contribute to the development of agricultural literacy education across Colorado.
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2023-2024 CoAITC Board of Directors
Jennifer Luitjens Bahr, Denver
Serving 2nd term
Jim Ehrlich, Monte Vista
Serving 1st term
*Cassidy Johnston, Kiowa
Elected to 1st term
[Advisor from 2021-2023]
*Idella Lewis, Wheat Ridge
Elected to 1st term
[Advisor from 2019-2023]
*Sallie Miller, Briggsdale
Elected to 2nd term
*Cindy Staheli Pearson, Loma
Elected to 1st term
[Advisor from 2021-2023]
Sondra Pierce, Delta
Serving 2nd term
Keri Powers, Colorado City
Serving to 1st term
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2023-2024 CoAITC Advisory Board
Jenny Bennett, Fort Collins
Serving since 2021
*Tasha Chevarria, Kiowa
Selected in 2023
*Charity Dowdell, Eaton
Selected in 2023
Bethany Howell, Del Norte
Serving since 2022
Julie Moore, Englewood
Serving since 1997
Colleen Peppler, Platteville
Serving since 2021
[Director from 2016-2021]
*Shelby Rich, Grand Junction
Selected in 2023
*Michelle Skaggs, Bennett
Selected in 2023
Terry Tormohlen, Fort Morgan
Serving since 2010
*Sarah West, Fort Collins
Selected in 2023
Aubriel Zachman, Fort Collins
Serving since 2023
[Director from 2018-2023]
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The Colorado Foundation for Agriculture is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education corporation. Our mission is connecting Colorado educators and students to their food, fiber, fuel, and natural resources through the Agriculture in the Classroom® program.
You can support our efforts to advance agricultural literacy by making your tax-deductible gift today at https://bit.ly/givecfa.
Giving is not just about making a donation.
It's about making a difference!
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Thank You Sponsors!
Listed below are sponsors at the Champion of Education and Honor Roll levels.
A listing of all sponsors can be found here.
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Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom | 970-818-3308 | GrowingYourFuture.com | |
10343 Federal Blvd Unit J Box 224, Westminster, CO 80260 | | | | |
