News

Michigan Association of Agriscience Educators president shares challenges

Agriscience educators are experiencing lasting impacts of the pandemic.

West Michigan teacher Melanie Block from Ravenna High School tells Brownfield students are still behind.

“Not only with educational gaps, but also maturity gaps—they’ve missed out on a lot of their educational experience the last couple of years,” she shares.

Block is serving as the Michigan Association of Agriscience Educators President and says the state also has a teacher shortage.

“We’re still looking for kids that want to grow up and be teachers, especially agricultural teachers because there’s a great need for it in our state,” she says.

She says every student should have access to agricultural education.

“Although not every student is going to go into an agricultural career, every student is going to be an agricultural consumer in their life, every signal day,” she adds.

Block says teachers and FFA programs need community support to build excitement for the food and ag industry.

Brownfield interviewed Block as part of this week’s Michigan FFA Convention.