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To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy (NATAA), DuPont more than doubled the annual attendance by adding a second, week-long session to its 2012 schedule. Some 48, highly recommended, agriscience teachers from 35 states will attend one of the two sessions, June 24-29 or July 8-13, at DuPont Chesapeake Farms, Chestertown, Md. With these two classes, the "Ag Academy" will grow to 181 ambassadors of our country's finest Agriculture Science teachers, representing 49 states and Puerto Rico.
The "Ag Academy" is a professional development institute, sponsored by DuPont as a special project of the National FFA Foundation and the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), where agriculture teachers learn new inquiry-based teaching techniques to improve science learning. Ecology, genetics and biofuels are just a few of the subjects investigated each year. The goal of NATAA is to incorporate more science into existing curriculums, make learning fun and challenging for students and, as a result, improve student performance in standardized science test scores.
"NATAA helps agriscience teachers see and connect the bridge between agriscience and agribusiness applications and science and math concepts so that student achievement is enhanced as measured by standardized tests," said Jay Jackman, executive director of NAAE. "Adding a second session to this great program is further evidence of the unwavering support of DuPont to agriculture education and innovative professional development opportunities for our teachers."
"Food security is the great challenge of the 21st century," said Rik L. Miller, president, DuPont Crop Protection. "Meeting this global challenge starts with helping educators equip today's students with the essential science and agricultural literacy and other critical skill sets they need to help them become the leaders of tomorrow who will improve food security for all. The addition of the second academy demonstrates DuPont's commitment to professional development opportunities for the nation's agriculture science teachers."
In October 2012, selected teachers from this year's classes will conduct seminars at the Agriscience Institute during the National FFA Convention, held annually in Indianapolis, Ind., helping other agriscience teachers learn how to teach science more effectively in the classroom. The ambassadors will also conduct workshops at the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) convention this November in Atlanta, Ga.
The National FFA Organization, with more than 523,000 members operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st Congress of the United States. FFA membership offers students opportunities that change lives and prepares students for premier leadership, personal growth and career success. The FFA organization represents a large diversity of more than 300 careers in the food, fiber and natural resources industry.
The NAAE is a federation of state agricultural educators associations with more than 7,650 members. Currently NAAE is focusing on three areas - advocacy for agricultural education, professional development for agricultural educators and recruitment and retention of current ag educators. NAAE offers a variety of programs and services to support this three-pronged mission.
DuPont Chesapeake Farms is a 3,300-acre working farm, showcasing a number of advanced agriculture and wildlife management practices. Chesapeake Farms is devoted to the development, evaluation and demonstration of advanced agricultural practices and wildlife management techniques, designed to be environmentally sound, productive, economically viable and socially accepted.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

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