Ferguson College of Agriculture

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership faculty and staff are excited to have Kadie Smith as the 2022-2023 Teacher in Residence.

 

Throughout her first visit as the Teacher in Residence in Nov. 2022, Smith met with professors on campus to discuss agricultural education’s role in the department and to observe and integrate herself with current students. She was able to advise students on following their passion for educating future agriculturalists. 

 

“As a teacher, I can kind of get in a rut with myself,” Smith said. “When I was given assignments on what I needed to present by professors, I reflected on what I do, why I do it and made me almost refocus. This experience reminded me of the impact I can make not only on the students, but also on the community and school.”

 

The Teacher in Residence Program allows for the selected teacher to visit the OSU campus for three days, where they can deepen their connections with current agricultural education students and have the opportunity to share their knowledge with them. Smith is the first Teacher in Residence to be selected for the entire academic year. She will return in the Spring 2023 semester whereas previous selectees were selected for a single semester. This program was put into action through a grant from Richard Carter, an OSU agricultural education alumnus.

 

“There are a lot of females coming into the profession,” Smith said. “I told the female students in class that they have to be realistic with their expectations and to find a good community. I hope to have empowered them as future ag teachers.”

 

Smith earned an agricultural education bachelor’s degree from OSU in 2014. Following graduation, she began her teaching career at Oologah High School, which has been her only teaching job.

 

In Smith’s nine-year journey as an agricultural educator, she has ingrained herself into the Oologah community. She currently teaches introductory, agricultural communications, horticulture and aquaponics courses. Oologah FFA has a highly reputable competition presence on the national level. At the 2022 National FFA Convention, Oologah FFA had a national proficiency award winner and an agriscience fair project that placed third in its division, and the chapter was recognized as a three-star chapter.

 

“I am really honored to be asked to come do this,” Smith said. “I am still learning every day, so being asked to come be the Teacher in Residence is a big deal to me and very humbling.”

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.