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Center Point-Urbana teacher earns Iowa Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award
Science teacher Melissa James integrates agriculture into her classroom curriculum
Jan. 16, 2024 6:00 am, Updated: Jan. 16, 2024 8:44 am
CENTER POINT — Center Point-Urbana science teacher Melissa James has earned a 2023 Iowa Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.
The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation is a central resource for educators and volunteers who want to teach Iowa’s students about agriculture, including agriculture’s global significance.
Goals of the foundation include:
- Building educator trust by being a credible source and leader of Iowa academic standards in agriculture education
- And collaborating with and empowering a diverse group of informal educators and community partners to support agriculture literacy in Iowa.
“I’ve always wanted to incorporate agriculture, but I didn’t grow up with any agriculture connections,” James said in a news release earlier this month. “I appreciate the vast resources that (the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation) offers, including the summer workshop classes and all of the in-classroom materials.”
James has expressed appreciation for the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation’s resources connections that help provide learning opportunities to students about conservation, cover crops, nitrogen, genetically modified food, specialty crops, hydroponics, and other important topics.
“Melissa is the model teacher to showcase how we can inspire educators to integrate agriculture into their classrooms,” said Kelly Foss, executive director of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.
James began teaching in the Center-Point Urbana Community School District in 2002, and has more than 30 years of experience as an educator.
“Melissa is a wonderful science teacher who incorporates agriculture and real-life examples into her curriculum each day,” said Morgan Hibbs, an agriculture education teacher for the Clear Creek Amana Community School District. “I worked with Melissa for four years in my previous Linn County role. I had the privilege to see firsthand how Melissa uses cross-curriculum strategies to enhance her students’ experiences.”
James will receive a $500 stipend to support her continued efforts of integrating agriculture into her classroom curriculum. Additionally, she has the opportunity to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2024.
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