The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has announced participants selected to test pilot middle- and high-school science curricula that will be submitted for consideration for a Next Generation Science Standards Badge. Selected teachers will attend a five-day pilot institute on instructional materials and best practices in Next Generation Science Standards Badge instruction in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Middle-school teachers will pilot a unit involving prairie chickens, cows, and ecosystems. High-school teachers will pilot a unit on cattle and genetics. Each teacher will receive a $1,000 stipend for piloting a unit with a classroom of students, collecting student data, and submitting feedback.
The applicants below were selected to pilot the curricula at the NGSS Storylines Fall Institute:
- Tiffany Dement, Guthrie High School (Guthrie, Oklahoma)
- Matthew Farris, Wilson Central High School (Lebanon, Tennessee)
- Sarah Hankins, Claggett Creek Middle School (Salem, Oregon)
- Mary Kathryn Henderson, Waycross Middle School (Waycross, Georgia)
- Gerald Hosler, McKay High School (Salem, Oregon)
- Patti Howell, Baconton Community Charter School (Baconton, Georgia)
- Kimberly Kerr, Westwood High School (Mesa, Arizona)
- Amalia Masiglat, Carnegie Vanguard High School (Houston, Texas)
- Justin Ollendick, Globe High School (Globe, Arizona)
- Sheli Wagers, Claggett Creek Middle School (Salem, Oregon)
- Reta Yanik, Westwood High School (Mesa, Arizona)
Additionally, three of the curricula writers will participate in the training and piloting:
- Monica Cohen, St. George’s Technical High School (Middletown, Delaware)
- Kirsten Smith, Pound Middle School (Lincoln, Nebraska)
- Luke Weaver, Avon Central Schools (Avon, New York)
Visit the Learn About Beef resources page on the Foundation’s website for additional information to build awareness, understanding and a positive public perception of agriculture through education.
The Beef Checkoff Program funded development of the Next Generation Science Standards Badge Storylines Fall Institute and supporting resources. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 farm bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products.
