TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — This week, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson sent a letter to school superintendents across Florida seeking nominations of educators in their district for the 2024-2025 Agriscience Education Leadership Program. The Agriscience Education Leadership Program equips and empowers educators with greater agricultural knowledge and leadership experience as they prepare the next generation of Florida’s leaders.
“By investing in our teachers, we are investing in the future success of our state, and the Agriscience Education Leadership Program is a unique opportunity that allows educators to step outside of the walls of the classroom and experience the full breadth of Florida agriculture,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Agriculture and related industries are important components of the lives of all Floridians, and I’m confident that the participants in this program — and their students — will benefit from understanding how this industry impacts their everyday lives and the role it plays in ensuring Florida's future.”
At no cost to participants, the program provides resources and experiences that will bring new knowledge and insight into the classrooms of Florida’s schools. More than 200 teachers have graduated the program since its inception in 2001 and are using the awareness and skill they gained to better prepare their students for the workforce and postsecondary education.
To continue the success of the program, FDACS is asking each school district to nominate up to three middle or high school agriscience or science teachers, or administrators overseeing those programs. The program will provide educators the opportunity to participate in three separate agribusiness tours and leadership development sessions throughout the 2024-2025 school year. There is no cost to the participants and the dates of the tours have been selected to minimize time away from the classroom.
The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2024. Nominations can be submitted online here.
For more information on the program, visit the FDACS Agriscience Education Leadership Program webpage.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
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