Outstanding Teacher Award
Wisconsin announces 2024 Outstanding Educator of the Year
Congratulations Mr. Gonzalez, 2024 Outstanding Teacher Award Winner!
Joshua Gonzalez, a dedicated second-grade teacher and Agriculture Committee Chairman at River Trail School of Agricultural Science in Milwaukee Public Schools, has been honored as the 2024 Wisconsin Outstanding Teacher by Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom. This prestigious accolade highlights Gonzalez’s innovative efforts to embed agricultural literacy into his classroom and schoolwide curriculum.
Each year, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation recognize a Wisconsin teacher or a teaching team for their achievements in teaching students the importance of agriculture while integrating agricultural concepts across the curriculum.
Eligible Candidates
Certified teachers currently engaged in classroom instruction at the pre-K through 12 levels. Applications may be from an individual teacher or a teaching team. Ideal applicants are integrating agricultural concepts into non-agricultural curricula. Past state winners and certified agriculture education instructors are not eligible.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal applicants utilize agricultural information and/or materials within the classroom curriculum to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Learning activities may include, but are not limited to, understanding agriculture’s impact on personal lives, our national heritage, the environment, national security and the economy. Innovative and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged. A panel of judges familiar with agriculture, education, and Agriculture in the Classroom will evaluate all nominations.
Judging Criteria
- Agriculture Literacy Integration (20 points): How are you currently integrating agriculture into your curriculum? If possible, provide specific examples of agriculturally-focused lessons, activities, and experiences, and the academic subjects and standards they support.
- Impact (15 points): How has integrating agriculture into your curriculum and classroom impacted you and students' academic success and/or classroom culture?
- Inspiration (5 points): How are you inspiring/encouraging your colleagues and other educators to utilize agriculture as a teaching tool?
- Supporting Materials (0): Up to 5 files can be uploaded to support the application.
- Award Honors: The state winner(s) will receive a plaque given in a classroom presentation, opportunity to serve as a member of the 2025-2026 Educator Ambassador Team and attend the 2025 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis, MN; receive an Agriculture in the Classroom SWAG Bag. The state winner(s) will represent Wisconsin as the state’s nominee for the 2026 Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award Program presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ag in the Classroom program. Upon completion of the Exellence in Teaching about Agricutlure Award application, the winner will receive $1500 towards registration and travel to the 2026 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference to be held in the Easter Region.
Awardees will be formally recognized through press releases, in Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom e-newsletter, on Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom website and social media, and WFBF Rural Route member magazine.
For questions about Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Educator Award, please contact Beth Schaefer, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator, at 608-828-5644, or [email protected]. Thank you for applying and good luck!