Program’s two newest instructors presented teacher key awards
This past July, the Mountain Lake Agriculture Department – consisting of Tom Appel, Lindsey Brown and Stephen Funk – received the Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agriculture Education Program Award at their Minnesota Agriculture Association of Educators (MAAE) Summer Conference. The goal of this award is to promote and recognize programs throughout the state; with Mountain Lake being this year’s recipient.
The award is judged on the following criteria – overall program, instruction, teaching philosophies, experiential learning, student organization (FFA), partnerships, marketing, and professional growth.
The department stated that it appreciated being recognized from among the many great programs in the state, and looks forward, in the years to come, to serve the students and community. However, according to Brown and Funk, the award would not have happened without Appel’s dedication to the program, Brown and Funk state. The pair thank Appel for his years of hard work in growing and keeping the program strong. The Agriculture Department also knows that this award and the successful program would not be the same without the community and their support.
Another highlight of the conference was that both Brown and Funk were chosen for the Minnesota Teacher Turn the Key Award. This award is given to two teachers that are in second-to-fourth year of teaching and is based off similar criteria as Outstanding Program Award.
The goal of the Teacher Turn the Key Award is to highlight young teachers in Agriculture Education and promote their efforts in serving their students, school, community and state organizations.
While the Mountain Lake Agriculture Department is very thankful for these awards, the trio of ag educations know that there would not be the program there is without the students, school and community
