The Daviess County Public Schools district has announced a new opportunity through their Empower U program, with the Agriculture Academy set to begin accepting applications on Feb. 1 for students in grades 8-12.
Students who will enter 8th grade in Fall 2021 are eligible to take Principles of Agriculture, a high school-level course that will be taught at their middle schools.
After successfully completing this entry-level course, students may choose from several different Agriculture Academy pathways as high school freshmen. The Ag Academy includes courses from five career areas, ranging from environmental science and natural resources to agribusiness.
“We are excited to offer agriculture in the middle schools and believe this will generate even greater interest in our ag programs,” said AHS agriculture teacher Aaron Tucker. “Students can choose from five career areas – Environmental Science and Natural Resources; Agricultural Power, Structural and Technical Systems; Horticulture and Plant Science; Animal Science; and Agribusiness – among the two high schools.”
Students enrolled in the Ag Academy throughout high school will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of leadership programs and experiences, including a senior year internship experience with local agriculture business and industries.
“It is essential that we provide students with the opportunity to discover career pathways throughout high school,” said DCPS college and career readiness coordinator Amanda Jerome. “I am excited about this new academy and what it will mean for students’ futures, as well as what this program can do to support our community’s ever-growing need for a workforce educated in agriculture-based skills.”
DCPS students who will enter the 8th grade next year may find the Agriculture Academy application at dcps.org beginning Feb. 1. Completion of this online application indicates interest to participate but does not obligate a student in any way.
For more information about the DCPS Agriculture Academy, Ag Academy courses or the application process, contact Jerome at [email protected].
Ashley Thomas, who will teach agriculture at all three DCPS middle schools, said her new role will benefit students in middle and high school, and beyond. Other DCPS high school agriculture teachers are Debbie Muse and Matt Johnson at Apollo; and Jason Smith, Craig Howard and Chad Askins at Daviess County.
Learn more about the DCPS Agriculture Academy and other components of Empower U here.
