Sarah LaRose, assistant professor of agricultural sciences education and communication (ASEC), was nominated for Indiana Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Postsecondary Teacher of the Year in 2020. This year, LaRose was selected as the regional winner for the same honor and is now a finalist for the national award.
LaRose teaches core courses to undergraduates, supervises student teachers, instructs online courses and runs a study abroad program in Jamaica. She has also served as a national committee member for Future Farmers of America (FFA). Her research focuses on better understanding and improving agricultural education and literacy while preparing the workforce to meet the needs and challenges of 21st-century agriculture.
“Dr. LaRose has made profound improvements in the undergraduate agricultural education program, which promotes instructional skill and self-efficacy development,” Mark Russell, ASEC department head and professor, said. “She has introduced new courses in curriculum development and laboratory teaching practices, so that students can not only continue to acquire content knowledge and develop agricultural skills, but also develop the pedagogical content knowledge necessary to successfully teach various agricultural subjects.”
The national ACTE award winners will be announced on Nov. 30 at the organization’s awards gala in Alexandria, Virginia.
