Ferguson College of Agriculture

 

Amber Atteberry of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, was named the 2024 – 2025 Teacher in Residence. Faculty and staff in the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership were excited to have Atteberry on campus for a few days this semester. 

 

Atteberry graduated from OSU with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural education, although she did not go into college with the goal of becoming an agricultural educator. This theme stuck with her throughout the majority of her college career, until she got back into the classroom for her student teaching semester.  

 

“Student teaching really reminded me of what I missed about the program, and I thought I could contribute,” Atteberry said. 

 

Now, Atteberry has spent the past 18 years in the classroom. She taught in Kingston, Oklahoma, for her first five years and has spent 13 years teaching in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, alongside her husband. Atteberry acknowledged her undergraduate program, explaining how at the time, she took the opportunities for granted. Looking back, she said she is thankful for all OSU offered her.  

 

“My time at OSU definitely opened my eyes to a whole new perspective that I definitely did not have before,” Atteberry said. 

 

The Teacher in Residence program offers current agricultural educators the opportunity to meet with faculty and students to observe and share their knowledge. This program was made possible through a grant from Richard Carter, an alumnus of the OSU agricultural education program. 

 

“My connection with college kids has really been limited to student teachers that we have had,” Atteberry said. “I am interested in that perspective. It’s easy to be on the ag teacher side of it … It’s interesting to me to see it from this side.” 

 

Each year, only one teacher is selected as the Teacher in Residence, and Atteberry said she was surprised when she found out she was selected. 

 

“[It is] humbling for sure,” Atteberry said. “I felt honored to be asked ... I was surprised when I first got the email.” 

 

With 18 years of classroom experience, one could say Atteberry has lots of insight to give to students. Being back on campus for just a couple of days, Atteberry wanted to leave the agricultural education students with one piece of advice, she said. 

 

“I would definitely tell them not to see this as just a steppingstone that you have to get through. See it as an opportunity to get better, to gain some skills and some contacts,” Atteberry said. 

 

To learn more about the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership or the Teacher in Residence program, visit our website.