Sent to:
State Staff, All Section Teachers, Principal, Superintendents, University and Community Colleges

Message:
To the Dedicated Professionals of Agricultural Education in Illinois,

Greetings! My name is Andrew Klein, and as you may have heard I am the new Principal Consultant for Agricultural Education here at ISBE. I’ll also serve in the traditional State FFA Advisor role, working with the FFA Center and interacting with the State FFA Officer team throughout the year. Before I become too settled in this new role, I wanted to take the chance to introduce myself and explain my goals for Illinois Agricultural Education. 

First and foremost, I want you to know that I am entirely a product of this great system we work in and for. I grew up in Amboy, a small farming community in Lee County. Under the direction of Mrs. Sarah Landers, the Amboy FFA Chapter quickly became my second home upon entering high school, and my classmates and I would go on to have many wonderful experiences in the FFA. My time yielding the gavel as Chair of the Parliamentary Procedure team and the countless hours I spent working on my SAE records were foundational in my personal growth and development. Other experiences like teaching younger students, coordinating community events, and even serving in higher offices at the Section and State levels were all wonderfully challenging. I share these parts of my past to demonstrate that I have a deep personal connection to the work we are doing, and I believe in our mission with my whole heart. I badly want to see you all to find success in your own way, because I know that when we succeed, students also succeed. 

My college experience looked a little different than most, spending a year up in Platteville, Wisconsin before finishing my education at the University of Illinois. I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at the U of I, but have also come to learn the awesome resources of all of our Universities and post-secondary institutions. After student teaching at Waterloo High School, I graduated and moved on to teaching in a new program in Decatur, Illinois. There we offered a variety of courses and also FFA opportunities. Most notable was the creation of a school farm showcasing a variety projects in everything including animal, plant, soil, and mechanical/structural opportunities. Upon taking this new job with ISBE, I left Decatur in the hands of many strong student leaders as well as a great community. 

Now at ISBE, I take on the role of working with all CTE areas to service students, administrators, and teachers alike. While my specialization is most definitely Agricultural Education, it is crucial that we are able to utilize strengths to improve all of CTE. As it is said, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” My goal is to make agricultural education the “rising tide” of CTE. I applaud the work of the last 40 years. We have a storied history of brave, dedicated individuals who have built monumental structures and support systems for our agriculture teachers and students in Illinois. I hope to continue and build upon that legacy. I am here for you, and my metaphorical door will always be open to your concerns and questions. If I can be helpful in any way, please don’t hesitate to let me know. 

I look forward to working with you all, and I hope to see you soon. 

Best Regards,

Mr. Andrew T. Klein
Principal Consultant for Agricultural Education
CTE and Innovation, C-215
Illinois State Board of Education
100 N. First Street 
Springfield, Illinois 62777
AKlein@ISBE.net