Meet the Teacher:

Hello and Welcome to Agriculture! My name is Kristen Thomas and I serve as the Agriculture Education Teacher and FFA Advisor at Hahira Middle School. I am an Agricultural educator by choice and not by chance. A major component of my professional practice includes the agriculture and natural resources industry – whether it is through formal or informal means, inside the classroom or in real-life situations. Even though I took many agriculture related courses during my high school career, my true love and passion for agricultural education did not come until my college years. 

I was born and raised in Tifton, GA. I graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in May of 2019. From there, I began my teaching career at Hahira Middle School. I graduated from Murray State University in December of 2021 with my Master of Science in Agricultural Education and in August of 2023 with my Specialist in Agricultural Education. 

I was Georgia's Agricultural Education recipient for the Teachers Turn the Key Award during the 2023-2024 school year. "Agricultural education is continually faced with a shortage of qualified teachers. Unless those who have been trained actually enter and remain in the profession for a period of several years, the shortage of qualified teachers will prevail. In 2003, NAAE developed the Teachers Turn the Key program as a means of encouraging young teachers to remain in the profession and to support and recognize participation in professional development. Since its inception, the program has impacted over 600 teachers across the United States. The Teachers Turn the Key professional development program focuses on providing early-career ag teachers with the tools and support they need to grow and flourish in the profession. Participants are challenged to improve their teaching and classroom management, develop time management skills, and immerse themselves in professional development activities that will support their professional goals."

When I am not working, you can find me hanging out with my fur baby, Willow. Willow is a German Shorthaired Pointer and is my world. Sometimes, she even finds her way into the classroom to greet my students. I also enjoy spending time with my family, especially spoiling my 3 year old niece, Allie Grace. I love to go deer hunting with my daddy during the fall and spend as much time as possible outdoors. 

As I enter my 6th year of teaching, I'm looking forward to an amazing school year! I can't wait to share my passion of agriculture with all of my students!

What is Agriculture Education?

Agricultural education teaches students about agriculture, food and natural resources. Through these subjects, agricultural educators teach students a wide variety of skills, including science, math, communications, leadership, management and technology.

Agricultural education is delivered through three interconnected components:

1. Classroom or laboratory instruction.

2. Experiential learning — Learning experiences that usually take place outside of the classroom, supervised by the agriculture instructor.

3. Leadership education — delivered through student organizations such as the National FFA Organization.

Agricultural Education is the teaching of agriculture, natural resources, and land management through hands on experience and guidance to prepare students for entry level jobs or to further education to prepare them for advanced agricultural jobs.