Agriscience Teacher

Working Schedule

• Agriscience Teachers work full-time, Monday through Friday. They may work overtime to prepare lessons and activities, grade assignments, or serve on committees. They must also spend time keeping up with changes in their respective fields. In addition, there may be evening activities to attend or supervise. 
• At the college level, agriscience educators are often required to engage in research and attend professional organization events. They must also research, write, and publish scholarly articles.  
• During periods when school is out (i.e., summer and holiday breaks), there may be less work, but teachers still have to prepare for upcoming terms. 

Typical Duties

High School Level

• Review textbooks and create lessons based on core competency learning objectives for the grade being taught
• Use a variety of methods and instructional materials to keep learners engaged
• Explain the different career fields within the agricultural sector and its industries 
• Organize individual/group activities to develop agriculture knowledge and skills
• Prepare activities and materials. Incorporate digital classroom best practices 
• Provide opportunities for students to get hands-on experience. Plan and carry out supervised field trips to agriscience-related sites 
• Manage the school’s laboratory and equipment, if applicable 
• Set up audio/visual or computer equipment; give lectures and presentations 
• Monitor student behavior and progress. Enforce classroom/district rules, model proper behavior, and ensure understanding and compliance 
• Create inclusive environments where learners can focus and feel supported
• Support agriculture learning opportunities, such as the Supervised Agricultural Experience, and clubs such as Future Farmers of America! Prepare FFA rosters and registrations
• Keep an eye on unique learner situations, to provide support as needed 
• Prepare students for standardized tests. Record performance and offer insights about strengths and areas for improvement 
• Assign and grade homework. Review quiz and test subject matter
• Track attendance; calculate grades

College Level

• Develop and teach a rigorous agriscience curriculum that prepares students for post-graduate careers
• Ensure the college department’s student learning objectives are met
• Provide engaging lectures and presentations that keep students interested
• Work with the program department to offer and support opportunities for students to get hands-on experience via internships/cooperative education activities  
• Assign reading, essay writing, activities, and projects to develop agriscience-specific knowledge and applied skills
• Enforce classroom and college rules and model proper behavior
• Meet with students during office hours to answer questions. Refer students to academic advisors, as needed
• Grade assignments and exams
• Collaborate with fellow instructors/professors to create new program curricula, including distance learning programs

Additional Responsibilities

• Meet with college deans and school heads to provide feedback on program success
• Conduct research, apply for grants, and write scholarly articles for academic journals
• Participate in professional organizations; contribute to the advancement of agriscience fields 
• Supervise or mentor teaching assistants and post-doc researchers
• Familiarize new instructors and adjunct professors with programs
• Serve on institutional committees (such as hiring committees) 
• Stay on top of agriscience trends to ensure the curriculum is up-to-date
• Work on tenure qualifications

Soft Skills

• Ability to monitor and assess learner behavior
• Compassion
• Composure 
• Coordinating and instructing activities
• Desire and aptitude to help others succeed
• Empathy
• Keen organizational skills
• Investigative
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership
• Objectivity 
• Patience
• Resilience
• Resourcefulness
• Social and cultural awareness 
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Strong communication skills, including active listening 

Technical Skills

• Ability to work with animals, if teaching animal science
• Expertise in agriscience topics (either generalized or specialized), such as genetics, plant physiology, and soil science
• Familiarity with basic crop production practices, farm machines, and equipment
• Familiarity with educational software and databases 
• Familiarity with lab instruments and testing tools
• Knowledge of math (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics), biology, chemistry, and geography 
• Knowledge of tablets, printers/scanners, and presentation equipment 
• Understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and goals 

• Educational institutions
• Local, state, and federal governmental agencies

Agriscience Teachers need patience and enthusiasm to teach in modern classrooms. While many students are good with agricultural and STEM subjects, others may struggle…and some may simply not be interested! 

It’s vital to teach agriscience in a way that is interesting and helps everyone feel supported while staying on target with learning objectives. Since science and technology are always evolving, teachers must keep up with changes and use current instructional material and teaching methods. 

They also have to put in sufficient time to prepare for each class, grade assignments with care, track student progress, and manage administrative duties. There may be Supervised Agriculture Experience and Future Farmer of America-related tasks to attend to, as well. All in all, it’s a lot of work—but the world of agriscience depends heavily on agriscience teachers to educate and motivate learners who may one day opt to enter these critical career fields. 

Three hot trends in agriscience are precision agriculture, sustainable practices, and vertical farming!  

Precision agriculture relies on smart technology to collect and analyze data about crops and livestock. The results are used to help farmers make better decisions so they can boost yields, reduce costs, and cut waste. 

This ties into sustainable agriculture, which minimizes environmental impact and preserves natural resources. Practices include crop rotation, cover crops, and integrated pest management (to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides)

Vertical farming, as the name suggests, is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. This uses much less land and allows for vastly more efficient utilization of water resources (in some cases, using 99% less water than traditional farming methods)!

People who are drawn to becoming Agriscience Teachers probably loved being outdoors, working on farms or in gardens. Most likely, they have always cared about the fragile ecosystems all around us, even as kids. They may have yearned to understand the wondrous science behind these things. After learning, they might have enjoyed sharing the information with others—thus beginning their journeys to becoming teachers!