Immediate Vacancy- Decatur MacArthur Ag Teacher/FFA Advisor

The Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy (www.itstartswithag.com) is seeking an Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor to join Becca Merrill at MacArthur High School. The successful applicant will take up teaching duties as soon as possible. This teacher would be joining a four teacher team – two at each high school – who work cooperatively to advise two Andreas Academy FFA Chapters, jointly operating horticulture and livestock activities. This current position is located at Decatur’s MacArthur High School, which functions as an independent FFA chapter, and works cooperatively alongside students and teachers from Eisenhower High School’s FFA chapter.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, classroom instruction will take place within the two Decatur high school buildings. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Andreas Academy will transition most instruction to the $9 million FFA Agriculture Education Center, which is under construction. This facility and adjoining production acreage will house Academy courses and serve as a host site for regional and state chapters to meet for special events.

Created through partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation – www.thehowardgbuffettfoundation.org – the Andreas Academy has grown to 435 students in its fourth year of operation, pursuing an objective to engage non-traditional students in exploring careers in Agriculture. 100% of the students are FFA members, with a focus on encouraging creative SAE immersions. More than 80 area businesses, such as Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), media outlets, family farms and community partners operate as an advisory panel in support of the program. The Academy continues to strengthen ties to the University of Illinois College of ACES (Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) and to create strategic connections with other collegiate agricultural programs.

Courses to be taught include: Introduction to Agriculture, Basic Ag Science, Wildlife Management, Animal Science, and Ag Business Management

An important component of Andreas Academy activities is a 15-acre school Living Science Farm (www.facebook.com/LivingScienceFarm) to host instructional enrichment activities for animal science, agriculture test and production plots, student-run entrepreneurship, and related hands-on learning experiences.

The successful applicant may have a special interest in one or more focus areas but must demonstrate proficiency in facilitating classwork for each course. Instructors utilize both CASE curriculum and iCEV online-focused resources to deliver content. The Academy covers costs for CASE training and other relevant professional development opportunities. This position offers a competitive salary/benefits package, including significant additional compensation through the Three Circle Grant.

Please direct email or phone inquiries to:

Zach Shields
Executive Director – Decatur Public Schools Foundation

zshields@dps61.org

(217) 362-3042 (office)

(217) 853-4722 (cell)

Becca Merrill

Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor- MacArthur High School

rmmerrill@dps61.org

309-660-4677

www.dps61.org/foundation