Strategic Plan

Recruit, prepare, retain and support agricultural educators

• Recruit and retain future agricultural educators at all levels, middle school through university.
• Prepare and support lateral entry and beginning agricultural educators.
• Develop models of preparation and licensure of agricultural educators, including necessary coursework, experience and collaboration/ alignment among teacher preparation programs.
• Develop leaders among agricultural educators at all levels across Agricultural Education Related Organizations (AERO).

Include all people and leverage diverse approaches

• Measure the presence and impact of current agriculture teachers from diverse backgrounds and learn from them.
• Recruit and retain teachers from diverse backgrounds and enable successful transitions from college to the classroom.
• Develop educational models and curricula that appeal to suburban/urban students.
• Elevate and emphasize inclusion, diversity and equity of agricultural education programs, students, teachers and professionals.

Engage and transition students to be leaders and advocates in/for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) and related industries

• Reinforce and improve work-based learning.
• Develop industry-valued and industry-validated certifications and credentials for students.
• Enhance agricultural education’s contribution to AFNR systems.
• Enhance agricultural education’s contribution to school academics, community service and leadership.

Develop collaborations within and beyond our agricultural education community

• Increase communication and collaboration among AERO groups to move agricultural education forward.
• Provide leadership for agricultural education.
• Gather metrics and publicize information that measures the success, value and importance of agricultural education.