College of AGNR recognized by Maryland State Department of Education

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has selected the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources to receive the 2013 Career and Technology Education (CTE) Reaching for the Goals Award of Excellence. The award is given out by MSDE’s Division of Career and College Readiness for affecting positive change in career and technology education programs.

Leon Slaughter, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, and Glori Hyman, Director of the Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA), will join Dean Cheng-i Wei in accepting the award at a presentation in Baltimore on April 23.

Both Slaughter and Hyman began working with MSDE three years ago to adapt an updated and heavily science-based national curriculum called CASE – Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education— for Maryland public schools. Due to its strong ties with agriculture educators, the IAA led the effort to host a training institute on the College Park campus and the University of Maryland became a CASE affiliate university. The IAA now hosts a training institute each summer for educators from around the country to become certified to teach courses developed through CASE.

“I am so pleased the Maryland State Department of Education has chosen to recognize the efforts of our faculty members for their work in advancing agricultural education for both students and teachers in Maryland,” said Dean Wei. “Encouraging and preparing the next generation to pursue agriculture-related careers is paramount for the future of our state, nation and world.”

AGNR faculty members continue to work with MSDE to strengthen agricultural education in schools around the state. “We want to increase the rigor and relevance in high school agriculture programs, provide professional development for teachers, and help prepare students for college and careers,” said Hyman. “Our goal is to help make the high school-to-college transition a little easier and smoother.”