Wednesday, June 17, 2020
This year, three of Wisconsin’s topnotch agriculture teachers retire from the programs they have built over more than 30 years. Though they are all in agriscience, the lessons they share apply to teachers in any discipline. Meet Roger King, Paul Larson, and Dan Ziegler as we look at how teachers in general, and these teachers in particular, make a difference.
Roger King is an agriscience educator of both state and national prominence, who has taught in the Holmen School District for all 36½ years of his career. In 2017 and 2009, he served as a Wisconsin representative to the National Agriculture Education Quality Program Standard Evaluation Team. He was the 2016 Wisconsin Educator of the Year. In 1998, King was selected as one of nine American agriculture teachers to help develop curricula for Russian and Ukrainian schools through the National FFA Organization and a year later, was selected as a National Milken Educator. His expertise has been crucial in moving agriculture education programs to a new level of integrating science into agricultural education while serving on the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Standards work group revision project at both state and national levels.
“It took about 30 years before agriculture was connected to science,” says King. “Now we have an agriculture equivalency for a science credit.” He is justifiably proud of his role in helping to make that happen.
Asked how he would advise teachers coming into the profession, he said, “We’re not going to be perfect. Learn from your failures, and your failures are truly a success. I’m still doing that!”
His second piece of advice? “Remember, activity before content (ABC),” says King. “Have an activity that engages the student and they’ll learn the content like you can’t believe.”
Paul Larson joined the faculty at Freedom School District in 1987. Under his guidance and with the help of the community and FFA alumni, it has grown to more than 200 students and two agriscience faculty. Larson has served in many leadership positions for his professional associations including the entire officer series for the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE), serving as president in 1995-96. He also held positions with the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), serving as the Advocacy Chairman for the state and national groups since 2005. Larson has been recognized as a Kohl Fellowship winner and Wisconsin Middle School Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Paul was named the Outstanding Teacher for NAAE and Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Region III Teacher of the Year.
“I have been blessed with many great and successful students,” says Larson. “I am of course proud of the ones who became veterinarians and PhD grads in other agricultural areas. But some of the best students I’ve had are the ones who stayed local and started their own businesses or took over a business, and most importantly are actively involved in the community and working or leading community groups like the food pantry, civic clubs, and giving back to support the community of Freedom.”
He advises new teachers: “Don't be afraid to ask for help, you can't know and do everything yourself.”
He goes on to advise, “Take time for things you enjoy away from school. Take care to spend time with your family and share your love of agricultural education with someone you love.”
Dan Ziegler has been the agriscience teacher at New Glarus High School for 36 years. He was awarded an Honorary American Degree from the National FFA President at the National FFA Convention in 2018. His accomplishments have combined his work at the school and his work in the community. New Glarus was one of the first schools to have a video-editing lab, making it possible to start a marketing and advertising class. This in turn made it possible to produce award-winning public service announcements and videos for FFA. His agriculture program was one of the first to get a computer on wheels (COW) cart as well. An energetic and tireless volunteer for his community, he was named Volunteer of the Year in 2007. He started the local Jaycee chapter and has been nominated as an outstanding member of the Jaycees and the Gift of Community for many years. He has helped organize the post-prom and post-homecoming parties and assisted with sound technology and other duties for events throughout the community too numerous to name.
“I feel I encourage the students to take charge. They must fill out the awards and set-up the team practices, if they show the interest I provide the opportunity. Under this philosophy I have had students spread their wings and try many things, even though they may be out of their comfort zone. I think to try something new is just as important as being a state winner.”
“They should never limit themselves on what they want to try.”