
Fall 2023
Vacancy- Decatur Eisenhower Ag Teacher/FFA Advisor
The Dwayne
O. Andreas Ag Academy (www.itstartswithag.com) seeks
an Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor to join the current Andreas Ag
Academy staff comprised of Becca Merrill, Delia Jackson, Scott Davidson, and
Clayton Thomas. The successful applicant will take up teaching duties at
Eisenhower High School in August 2023. This new position will join an
agriculture teaching team managing three sites – one teacher at each high
school, and three at the new FFA Agriculture Education Center; this
team works cooperatively to advise two Andreas Academy FFA Chapters. Students
from Eisenhower and MacArthur High Schools jointly operate horticulture and
livestock activities.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Andreas Academy will
transition most instruction to the $11 million FFA Agriculture Education Center.
The facility is under construction and slated for completion in Spring 2023.
This facility and adjoining production acreage will house Andreas Academy
courses and serve as a host site for regional and state chapters to meet for
special events. Responsibilities for this posted include teaching
Introduction to Agriculture and Basic Ag Science. These
are our most pivotal courses for new Academy students before transitioning to
the new center. The Academy is now offering17 separate
courses for older students, with several thematic pathways available in Power
and Structural Systems, Animal Science, Plant Science, Natural Resources,
Agribusiness and Leadership, and Food Science.
Created through partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation
– www.thehowardgbuffettfoundation.org –
the Andreas Academy has grown to 465 students in its fifth year of operation.
Its objective is to engage non-traditional students in exploring careers in
Agriculture. 100% of the students are FFA members, with a focus on encouraging
creative SAE immersions. More than 80 area businesses, such as Archer Daniels
Midland (ADM), media outlets, family farms and community partners operate as an
advisory panel in support of the program. The Academy continues to strengthen
ties with the four major universities in Illinois that provide agriculture
education to create strategic connections with other collegiate agricultural
programs.
An important component of Andreas Academy activities is managing a
15-acre Living
Science Farm (www.facebook.com/LivingScienceFarm) to
host instructional enrichment activities for animal science, agriculture test
and production plots, student-run entrepreneurship, and related hands-on
learning experiences.
The successful applicant may have a special interest in one or
more focus areas but must demonstrate proficiency in facilitating classwork for
each pathway. Instructors utilize both CASE curriculum and other online-focused
resources to deliver content. The Academy covers costs for CASE training and
other relevant professional development opportunities. This position offers a
competitive salary/benefits package, including significant additional
compensation through the Three
Circle Grant. To apply for the position click here.
Please direct email or phone inquiries to:
Zach Shields
Executive Director – Decatur Public Schools Foundation
zshields@dps61.org
(217) 362-3042 (office)
(217) 853-4722 (cell)
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Megan Coy
Facilitating Coordination in Ag Education (FCAE)
Phone: 217-493-8791 Cell: 217-493-8791
Email: mcoy@ilaged.org
Address: 801 N. Country Fair Dr, Champaign, IL 61820