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TEACHING

Fall 2024
MINNESOTA’S K–12 EDUCATION CONNECTIONTODAY MN ™

Carrie Allord is Minnesota Detroit Lakes High School

Agriculture in the Classroom’s Career Academies and

2024 Outstanding Teacher Youth Skills Training Grant

listening, and speaking skills in her students, Preparing Students for Real-World Success
and is always looking for opportunities to
connect plants, animals, and food to the Joshua Omang, Principal
learning activities happening in her class- Vern Schnathorst, Work-Based Learning
room. She also uses a classroom chicken Coordinator
named Pearl as well as a chick hatching Detroit Lakes High School
program to help students investigate life- At Detroit Lakes High School (DLHS),
cycles and connect to important science we are dedicated to equipping students with the
concepts. skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary
“To be agriculture literate is to under- to thrive in today’s dynamic job market. Our
stand and respect where our food comes Career Academies provide hands-on learning
from. It is important for teachers and stu- in high-demand fields. Last spring, we were
dents to share the knowledge of agriculture awarded a $77,500 grant from the Minnesota
so that everyone around us understands how Department of Labor’s Youth Skills Train-
agriculture impacts our world, and our daily ing (YST) program. This grant enables us to
lives,” said Allord. further enhance our academies in areas crucial
All Minnesota licensed K-12 to both local and state economies.
Carrie Allord, a third-grade teacher at educators who creatively integrate agri-
St. Francis Catholic School in Brainerd, has cultural concepts into non-agricultural Practical Skills and Career Readiness
been recognized as Minnesota Agriculture in education classroom settings are eligible DLHS’s Career Academies focus on
the Classroom’s (MAITC) 2024 Outstand- pathways in Engineering Design, CNC Man-
ing Teacher Award winner. ufacturing, and Transportation Technology
This award recognizes the teacher for — fields chosen based on regional industry Whether they enter the workforce directly
his/her creative efforts to integrate agricul- needs and future workforce demands. With or pursue further education, our academies
ture into his/her classroom and curricula the YST grant, we’re enhancing these pro- ensure students have a strong foundation.
to increase agricultural literacy. An agri- grams by providing students with access to
culturally literate person is defined as “one cutting-edge technology and real-world work Strategic Investment in Career
who understands and can communicate the experiences that will better prepare them for Pathways
source and value of agriculture as it affects life after high school. The $77,500 grant is helping us expand
our quality of life.” The grant connects classroom learning key areas. In the Engineering Design pathway,
The winning Minnesota teacher with practical, on-the-job training. By col- new 3D modeling software and equipment
receives $500 and can have up to $1,500 laborating with local businesses and industry empower students to take concepts to proto-
of his/her related expenses paid to attend experts, students gain valuable experience types. The Advanced Manufacturing pathway
the National Agriculture in the Classroom through internships, job shadowing, and will feature advanced machinery that mirrors
(NAITC) Conference hands-on projects. These experiences allow industry standards, giving students practical
Allord uses a wide range of agriculture- students to better understand their chosen skills to succeed in precision manufactur-
themed books, lessons, and materials to fields while developing critical thinking, prob-
support the development of reading, writing, Continued on Page 8 lem-solving, and teamwork skills. Continued on Page 18

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Northland Community & Technical College • North Dakota State College of Science • South Dakota State University
Minnesota West Community & Technical College • Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Minnesota University College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Science • Pine Technical & Community College
Productivity Inc. • St. Cloud State University • Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented • Viterbo University
St. Mary’s University Minnesota • North Dakota State University • International Wolf Center.