Agricultural News
Watonga Teacher Named Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of The Year
Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:43:31 CDT
A 31-year veteran of the classroom has been named Oklahoma's latest Ag in the Classroom State Teacher of the Year. Shirley Lettkeman, a fourth grade and gifted education teacher in Watonga was honored at a school assembly.
Lettkeman has a master's degree in education, is reading specialist certified and has achieved National Board Certification. Though she grew up in Clinton, Lettkeman has taught in Watonga for 31 years.
Lettkeman has presented Ag in the Classroom lessons at state and national conferences. She uses Ag in the Classroom lessons and resources. As she is preparing her students for state-mandated testing, she is using Ag in the Classroom Smartboard lessons designed for that purpose.
Lettkeman received a Specialty Crop garden grant through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and Ag in the Classroom. The grant is designed to promote healthy eating through growing a classroom garden and introducing students to the produce.
Lettkeman says, "I always try to make learning a fun and enjoyable experience. I do not want to make the students read for the sake of reading, I want them to fall in love with reading. I want it to be a lifetime experience. The same is with agriculture, community and our love for our country; I want them to fall in love with it too."
Lettkeman's husband, Dennis, is a chemist and product developer for United States Gypsum. She has a daughter, Kimbri, a student in Physical Therapy at the University of Texas Medical Branch and a son, Brice, a Sr. at UCO majoring in photography. Her son-in-law Jason is a district manager of the Mattress Firm in Houston.
Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom is a program of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the Oklahoma State Department and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. The purpose of Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom is to help familiarize Oklahoma school children with Oklahoma's food and fiber industry by providing resources for Oklahoma teachers.
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