Vacancy- Decatur Andreas Ag Program Ag Teacher/FFA Advisor
The Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy (www.itstartswithag.com) seeks an Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor* to join the current five-person faculty, which in 2025-2026 served approximately 300 high school students, alongside a new middle school FFA chapter advised by a 6th teacher.
Teaching duties for this current job posting begin in August 2026. The ideal candidate for this Academy position will possess a strong CTE / Ag Mechanics interest, along with proficiency in all Ag Ed subject areas. The teacher will have an Ag-specific classroom space adjacent to a full industrial tech shop. This position is based at MacArthur High School for the full instructional day.
The agriculture teaching team manages four current sites:
Eisenhower High School
MacArthur High School
The FFA Agriculture Education Center
The Academy Living Science Farm (visit virtually via www.facebook.com/LivingScienceFarm)
Our 15-acre Living Science Farm hosts instructional enrichment activities for animal science, agriculture test and production plots, student-run businesses, and related hands-on learning experiences. Students from Eisenhower and MacArthur High Schools jointly participate in horticulture and livestock projects.
Freshmen take Introduction to Agriculture courses in the high schools; older students attend the Ag Education Center for half-days incorporating three class periods. The newly-constructed Ellsworth Dansby, Jr. Magnet School houses middle school FFA programming. Ag Center students are enrolled in 16 separate courses for Fall 2026, with thematic pathways available in Power and Structural Systems, Animal Science, Plant Science, Natural Resources, Agribusiness and Leadership, and Food Science.
Originally created through a four-year pilot partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation (visit via www.thehowardgbuffettfoundation.org), the Andreas Academy is entering its ninth year. Its objective is engaging non-traditional students to explore careers in Agriculture, with a focus on encouraging creative Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) and entrepreneurship. Supplies and program expenses are funded through private contributions to the Decatur Public Schools Foundation.
The successful applicant may have a special interest in one or more focus areas, but should be comfortable teaching within each pathway. Instructors utilize both CASE curriculum and other online-focused resources to deliver content, with CASE training and other relevant professional development opportunities.
This position offers a competitive salary/benefits package, including significant additional compensation through the Three Circle FFA Grant, should the applicant wish to teach AND serve as an FFA Advisor* (optional).
Please direct email or phone inquiries to:
Zach Shields
Executive Director – Decatur Public Schools Foundation
zshields@dps61.org
(217) 853-4722 (mobile)
www.dps61.org/foundation