Include your favorite teacher on your back-to-school list

When back-to-school shopping this year, don’t forget your favorite teacher! Parents, grandparents and others with an interest in education have the opportunity to bring agriculture-related resources to a nearby teacher through Virginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom Adopt-a-Teacher program. Participants partner with AITC by purchasing a back-to-school kit to help an educator start the school year right.

“We wanted to allow members of the community to bring agriculture education to a teacher and school near them,” said Tammy Maxey, senior education manager for Virginia AITC. “Each contribution gives us the opportunity to provide teachers with materials they can use to help children understand and appreciate agriculture.”

When someone adopts a teacher for $10, the honoree will receive a back-to-school gift that will include AITC’s current curriculum unit; the latest AITC educational newsletter; information about AITC online resources and educational tools; and a reusable AITC water bottle and set of pencils.

“We’re already in a number of elementary schools in Virginia, but we’re always looking for a way to get more agriculture lessons and resources into more schools,” Maxey said. “This program has been a great opportunity to help teachers who are not aware of AITC learn more about what we have to offer.”

Virginia AITC has been providing agriculture lessons, training and classroom resources to Virginia educators for 25 years. It is part of a nationwide effort to foster understanding and appreciation of agriculture, which is Virginia’s and the nation’s largest industry.

The program provides training and materials to more than 2,000 educators each year, and its website provides teachers with Standards of Learning-aligned lessons, literacy activities and more. All AITC services are provided to educators at no cost.

The AITC program is funded by donations received through the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, a nonprofit organization that receives financial and administrative support from Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. For more information, visit AgInTheClass.org.