November Educator of the Month
According to Superintendent, Dr. Debbie Howell, November’s Educator of the Month, embodies everything an educator should be. Mrs. Katie Schneider, Franklin County High School Ag Education Teacher and FFA Advisor, is passionate about Ag Education and invested in her students, as well as the community. In her fourth year at Franklin County High School, Mrs. Schneider has transformed the Ag Education curriculum and reenergized the FFA program.
Mrs. Schneider was nominated for this recognition by Grace Moster, Franklin County FFA Chapter Secretary. According to Miss Moster, “Mrs. Schneider’s passion for agriculture and FFA have blossomed during the short time she has been at the helm of our program. Our chapter size has doubled and our members have adopted her contagious positive attitude that has amplified their involvement. I could not have asked for a more driven, caring, and dedicated advisor.”
After graduating from Franklin County High School, Mrs. Schneider attended Purdue University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy and Agronomic Business & Marketing. She first put her degree to work as a Precision Ag Specialist at Harvest Land Co-op. While working full time, Mrs. Schneider went back to school and received her Master’s Degree in Science Education. She completed her student teaching at FCHS and served as a long-term substitute teacher in the science department. After completing her Master’s Degree, Mrs. Schneider taught 7th grade science at Greensburg Jr. High School before returning to her alma mater.
Mrs. Schneider and several of her students, recently attended the National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis. Franklin County FFA members had the opportunity to network with over 50,000 fellow FFA members from across the country. Thanks to Mrs. Schneider’s efforts, Franklin County High School recently received a $25,000 Monsanto grant to construct a greenhouse at the high school. In addition, Mrs. Schneider will be featured in an upcoming issue of Indiana’s FFA magazine, Impact, as their “spotlight” advisor.
Mrs. Schneider, her husband, and two daughters operate a beef farm in Franklin County. She also continues to help out on her parent’s dairy farm. In her “free time”, she enjoys decorating, gardening and DIY projects around the house.
When asked about the best part of her job, Schneider stated, “The best part of my job is watching students grow in their leadership abilities and knowledge. I get the opportunity to have many of my students for 3 or 4 years of their high school career, so it is neat to watch their progression from freshman to senior year as they take on more responsibilities and leadership roles in the classroom and in FFA. I also enjoy the opportunity to teach students valuable knowledge they will use throughout life. Not all of my students will be employed in agriculture, but they will all be consumers and understand where their food comes from so they can be a positive voice for Agriculture in our community.”
Community members are encouraged to visit Franklin County’s FFA website at http://fcffa.weebly.com/ffa.html or follow them on Twitter @FranklinCoFFA.
The purpose of the “Educator of the Month” program is to recognize outstanding Franklin County educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, leadership in the school, dedication to the students, and involvement in the community. Nomination forms for “Educator of the Month” can be found on the school corporation website at www.fccsc.k12.in.us.