An elementary school teacher from Plainfield has been named the 2023 Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Outstanding Educator. Jessica Rettler is a fourth-grade educator at Tri-County Elementary School. The Outstanding Educator Award honors K-12 educators who work to enhance student learning and achievement in core subjects while increasing student awareness and understanding of the important role agriculture plays in students' daily lives.
"I believe human survival and sustainability rely upon agricultural literacy," Rettler stated in her application. "The basic needs of air, food, water and protection from environmental dangers sustain life. Agriculture is key to those basic needs. By increasing the level of any form of literacy, we empower others to make good choices."
For the past 21 years, Rettler has integrated agricultural literacy into her classroom by staying current on past and present agricultural practices, as well as sharing personal experiences and values from her family farm. Casual conversations and well-planned lessons are a part of her daily teaching. Rettler has integrated agriculture into almost every core subject allowing her students to improve their reading, writing and problem-solving skills through partnerships with Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom, Adopt-A-Cow classroom program, and Hancock Agricultural Research Station.
Jessica received a plaque and prize packaged valued at over $1,700 and will represent Wisconsin as the state's nominee for the Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award Program presented by the USDA's Ag in the Classroom program. The national winners will be announced at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Orlando next summer.
Categories: Wisconsin, Education