Ridgeline teacher Shyanne Ovard wins scholarship, attends Agricultural Education Convention
Shyanne Ovard, an agricultural educator at Ridgeline High School, is one of a select group of agriculture teachers nationwide who received the 2017 Teachers Turn the Key professional development scholarship from the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). As a scholarship recipient, Ovard attended the NAAE annual convention in Nashville on December 5-9.
“At the NAAE conference I was able to collaborate with teachers from all over the United States,” explained Ovard. “We received specialized training for agriculture teachers who are in their first five years of teaching. Each day, the program focused on teaching how to balance classroom management, instructional design, and organization of space.”
Prior to the conference, Ovard had already provided unique learning experiences to her students through her network of partnerships within the state. For example, her students worked with Utah State University and the Bear Creek Conservation District to complete a habitat restoration project for monarch butterflies. The project began in the school’s greenhouse by scarifying and planting milkweed seeds. Students then transplanted the seedlings into an area of the Bear River Conservation district. Planting milkweed into the Bear Creek habitat provided monarch butterflies with the plant, which is vital to maintaining their lifecycle and population.
Ovard’s students also had the opportunity to learn by doing through Supervised Agricultural Experiences, which are student-led projects that typically take place outside of regular school hours. Ovard requires students to have an SAE and to keep accurate records of their projects. Student projects range from raising sheep, breeding bearded dragons, braiding rawhide into bosal reins, and training mares in preparation for sale.
“I love the opportunity that I have to work with students to develop leadership and consumer skills through FFA,” remarked Ovard. “I have the opportunity to teach and explore different subjects from veterinary science to floriculture. It really makes every day different.”
Jill Israelsen, a parent of one of Ovard’s former students, attested to Ovard’s love for her career and students. “Her direction and teaching wasn’t limited to classroom academics, but the personal encouragement needed for [my son] to gain confidence in his abilities,” said Israelsen. “[Ovard] is very committed and conscientious in her teaching in and out of the classroom and always goes the extra mile.”