Ferguson College of Agriculture

 

The Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications, and Leadership faculty and staff were excited to host Kenny Leatherwood as the 2021 Teacher in Residence November 8-10.

 

While serving as the Teacher in Residence, Leatherwood had the opportunity to speak to multiple agricultural education classes where they discussed topics such as career opportunities for AGED graduates, classroom management in the real world, and classroom management strategies. 

 

“My favorite part of this experience has been interacting with the AGED majors and reminiscing and remembering when I was in their shoes,” said Kenny Leatherwood, OSU Teacher in Residence and Edmond Public Schools agricultural education instructor. “I’ve enjoyed seeing the similarities between the expectations and concerns I had before starting my student teaching and getting the chance to address those concerns with the students, as well as letting them know that even with 35 years of experience, I still get a little nervous when teaching something new.” 

 

The Teacher in Residence Program was made possible by a grant from Richard Carter, an OSU agricultural education alumnus, and a retired Iowa State University faculty member. Through grant funding, the teacher in residence has the opportunity to visit the OSU campus for three days to teach and interact with current agricultural education students. 

 

“I think the Teacher in Residence is a very valuable program,” Leatherwood said. “I wish that I would have had the opportunity to speak with a seasoned agricultural education instructor and hear their perspective as to what it’s like teaching agriculture education in the real world,” Leatherwood said.

 

Leatherwood is originally from Westville, Okla., where he grew up on his family’s poultry farm. After graduating high school, Leatherwood attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before transferring to OSU in 1982 where he earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. 

 

Leatherwood currently serves as one of three agricultural education instructors at Edmond Public Schools where he is responsible for the agricultural mechanic courses. Leatherwood has been teaching agricultural education for 35 years and plans to retire in the spring of 2022, and looks forward to spending time with his four grandchildren, he said.

 

"My advice for a new ag teacher would be to be patient and understand that you are young and if you give it a chance, agricultural education can be a very rewarding profession,” Leatherwood said.

 

The OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership in the Ferguson College of Agriculture is dedicated to developing well-rounded agricultural professionals, educators, communicators, and leaders through academic, research and extension, and outreach efforts. Learn more at aged.okstate.edu.