Working with Administrators as an Ag Educator

Hey fellow AEE 311 Classmates!!

The class is coming to an end and I thought I would leave off with some tips on creating a partner and resource in your administrators. We know how important it is to create partnerships with parents, community, and we can't forget about administrators. It can be difficult to explain agricultural education to administrators that aren't aware of the benefits. It is best to be patient and show them all of the awesome things agricultural education students can accomplish!

I found this incredible resource on FFA.org called the Agricultural Teachers Manual. It is PACKED full of information as you can imagine, including tips as well forms to use in your chapter and classroom. Section 14 of this manual is dedicated to working with administrators. Do yourself a favor and download the following resource for when you start out teaching!

https://www.ffa.org/documents/edr_teachnbk.pdf

Section 14 is helpful so you can keep in mind the "best practices" for keeping administrators, counselors, and even other teachers on your team. Agricultural education and FFA is so beneficial to students and we, as future educators, need to share that with others in the school system. If a counselor sees agricultural education as a dead-end track only for students working and living on a farm, then you may find your numbers in the program dwindling. There is so much more there for all students, it is not limited to farm kids and that needs to be communicated.

Everyone likes to feel like they have a say, and administrators are no different. To open up a successful relationship with your administrators, ask them what they think of the program. Ask their opinions and any suggestions. You don't have to accommodate all of their suggestions, but asking their opinion can really go a long way: it shows you respect their position.

Once you know of any issues or new ideas for the program it is important to figure out a plan. If an administrator is concerned about the small size of the program then how can you approach recruiting more students? Make your administrators part of that plan! They want to know they have control, even if you make some of your own decisions regarding the program. Also, make sure you take accountability for any issues surrounding the program. If you constantly put the blame on others  you won't receive much repeat in return. Taking accountably for the program can really show your determination to make the program better.

I HIGHLY encourage you to save that Agricultural Teacher's Manual from the FFA. It has so many great resources you can use in the future and even in coursework. Remember to work on your communication skills to persuade administrators to support your agricultural education program. Have a great rest of the semester!