Vacancy: 2021-2022 Ag Teacher & FFA Advisor Dwayne O Andreas Ag Academy Decatur

The Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy (www.itstartswithag.com) seeks a third Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor to collaborate in expanding a dynamic, growing program. Interviews for the position will be scheduled promptly upon inquiry. The successful applicant will take up teaching duties at the end of the 2021 school year (to begin between May and August, 2021, per teacher’s preference). The former teacher, Mr. Andrew Klein, played a lead role in establishing the Andreas Academy, and has accepted a position as Principal Consultant for Agricultural Education with the Illinois State Board of Education.

Created through partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation – www.thehowardgbuffettfoundation.org – the Andreas Academy grew to 361 students in its second year of operation, pursuing an objective to engage nontraditional 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 to the University of Illinois College of ACES (Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) and to create strategic connections with other collegiate agricultural programs.

Courses offered to date include: Introduction to Agriculture, Basic Agriscience, Agribusiness, Honors Agriculture Leadership and Communications, Agricultural Mechanics, Animal Science and Horticulture – with horticulture curriculum providing dual-credit through Richland Community College, as well as several of the other listed courses incorporating the Honors credit option. Honors students are taught alongside the full cohort of Agriculture students, but participate in additional curricular, FFA, SAE and CDE activities.

The successful applicant may have a special interest in one or more focus areas, but needs to demonstrate proficiency in facilitating classwork for each course. Instructors utilize both CASE curriculum and iCEV onlinefocused resources to deliver content. The Academy covers costs for CASE training and other relevant professional development opportunities.

An important component of Academy activities is a developing 15-acre school 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. Operating academically at both Decatur public high schools, Andreas Academy teachers work in cooperation to manage the Science farm, coordinate activities, special events, scholarships and FFA activities.

The position offers a competitive salary/benefits package, including significant additional compensation for the SAE/Science Farm and Three Circles Grant program allocation.  To apply for the position please use the following link: https://www.applitrack.com/dps61/onlineapp/default.aspx?internal=internal&district=&category=High+School+Teaching.

Please direct email or phone inquiries to our Program Administrator:

Zach Shields
Executive Director
Decatur Public Schools Foundation
zshields@dps61.org
(217) 362-3042 (office)
(217) 853-4722 (cell)
www.dps61.org/foundation