Utilizing Wenger's (1998) work of Communities of Practice and hermeneutic phenomenology, the purpose of this study was to examine the phenomenon of participation among alternatively certified agriculture teachers in the agriculture teacher community of practice. Two themes emerged as we interpreted the findings: (1) we're all in this together, and…

Community engagement has significant impacts on SBAE teachers' perceived opportunities to remain at their schools or in the profession at large. We wanted to better understand how interactions between teachers and their communities invoked challenge or support, particularly in helping us understand how to retain mobile teachers. Specific to this…

This longitudinal qualitative phenomenological case study seeks to understand beginning agriculture teachers' experiences and how their attitudes toward teaching evolve over time. The research included visits to the teachers' facilities, monthly interviews, reflection exercises, and focus groups. Initial coding included magnitude and in vivo…

Sources of satisfaction, stress, and burnout are all-too-familiar to school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers. Yet, the current literature related to SBAE stress has not addressed the overwhelming existence of trauma in our greater society. Teacher wellbeing can be compromised when students share their own adversities and traumatic…

Agriculture teachers need knowledge and skills in a range of agricultural mechanics topics, such as metal fabrication and power mechanics. Teacher professional development (PD) is one method for improving teacher competence. Both Sorensen et al. (2014) and Yopp et al. (2020) reported differences in teachers' PD needs based on years of teaching…

Instructional methods are the cornerstone of all teaching and learning strategies. This study explored instructional method use by early, middle, and later career agricultural education teachers. One-hundred nine teachers responded to an online questionnaire and were evenly split in terms of gender. Cooperative learning, demonstration, and lecture…

With the debut of SAE for All, it is imperative student growth catalyzed by supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) be measured to understand the general efficacy of SAEs as well as the specific impact of the SAE for All initiative. In the three-component model, Classroom/Laboratory Instruction, FFA, and SAE are represented as being equal, but…

This qualitative study, utilizing Expectancy Value Theory (EVT) as a guiding framework, delves into the motivations and preferences of alternatively certified School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) teachers in Ohio regarding their engagement with Teacher Professional Development (TPD). Through individual interviews with 10 alternatively…

Teacher shortages in agricultural education are one reason for an increase in alternatively certified teachers, with 22.8% of new hires in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) being alternative licensure route completers in 2018. While prior research in SBAE has provided insight into the needs of alternatively certified teachers, we do not…

Recognizing that the agriculture industry continues to have the highest worker fatality rate, a multi-year teacher professional development was conducted to improve teachers' tractor and machinery safety knowledge. The purpose of this study was to analyze participant knowledge throughout the professional development to better understand the role…

This study aimed to understand how agriscience teachers' lived experiences during an international experience influenced their perspective changes on globally competent teaching one year later. Using a phenomenological approach, four themes emerged -- (1) personal growth, (2) intellectual growth, (3) professional growth, and (4) advocacy growth.…

With agricultural education teachers continually leaving the teaching profession, it is up to schools and administrators to assist in retaining teachers. People are motivated differently based on their experiences and goals for their futures. Both intrinsic and altruistic motivators are highly involved when one decides to become a teacher. The…

This theoretical manuscript acknowledges the three-circle model for agricultural education as an enduring guide for student success. To complement the three-circle model, authors adapted "donut economics" to craft the donut model for agriculture teacher success. Within the proposed model, teacher success is defined as a level of…

The purpose of this study was to collaborate with School-Based Agriscience Education (SBAE) teachers who identify as LGBTQ+ to examine the unique interactions between their chosen career and their sexual and/or gender minority identities. This phenomenology utilized queer theory to analyze data from semi-structured interviews with individuals who…

School-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers have an obligation to teach students about agriculture and prepare them for agricultural careers. Yet, considering the vast number of sectors within the agricultural industry, this task can be daunting. One way teachers can accomplish this mission is through preparing their students to…