Vol. 47  No 20

www.lancasterfarming.com

Saturday, March 16, 2002

PORT ROYAL, (Perry Co.) -- MeeCee Baker is an agricultural educator at Greenwood High School but now she has "leaped" to a wider field of interest as an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University. Knowing that there is a critical shortage of teachers in agriculture across the country, Baker seeks to interest more men and women in becoming certified in agricultural education.  As a part of the LEAP Program, she is working to do that. LEAP is the acronym for Licensure in Education for Agricultural Professionals.  The program allows an individual with an ag-related bachelor's degree to take courses online to become certified in agricultural education. LEAP which began one year ago, is developed through North Carolina University, but also has courses by professors from across the nation.  The program requires 24 semester hours in specific courses. At completion of the online coursework, the person receives a teaching certificate from North Carolina which is recognized in 49 states (with the exception of Louisiana). Baker has been involved with agricultural education for 20 years.  She earned a bachelor's degree at Penn State, a master's degree at the University of Delaware, and a doctorate at Penn State. While enthusiastic about the Greenwood High School Agriculture Program and her students there, Baker is also very enthusiastic about supervising the first individual scheduled to complete the LEAP program, Diane Glock, during her student teaching experience.

Glock, who lives in Mifflintown, Juniata County, found that the LEAP program fitted her needs as a returning adult student.  Glock plans to complete the LEAP program this summer and will be poised to accept a position teaching agriculture for the 2002-2003 school year.  Glock earned a bachelor's degree in dairy science from Penn State. Along with Glock, two other Pennsylvania students are enrolled in the LEAP program. "What is unique about LEAP," Baker said, "is people do not have to resign their jobs to pursue certification.  LEAP is adult-friendly and flexible." Gary Moore, coordinator of graduate programs in agricultural and extension education at N. C. State, was instrumental in developing LEAP, supported by the American Distance Education Consortium and collaboration with the National FFA Organization, the National Association of Agricultural Educators, and several universities. To apply for the LEAP program, a person must possess a baccalaureate degree in agriculture, natural resources, or a closely related field from an accredited institution in the U.S. with a 2.5 grade point average; submit a detailed essay on why he or she wants to be a teacher of agriculture; and submit three letters of recommendation regarding the applicant's character, work ethic, academic ability, and suitability to become a teacher. More information about the LEAP program and its requirements are available online at htttp://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/leap or by contacting Baker at (717) 527-2050.