State Programs
State Summary 2010 — Connecticut
State Contact
Ms. Eleanore Provencal
Connecticut Agriculture in the Classroom
278 Barber Road
Woodstock, CT 06281
P: 860.974.0200
F: 860.875.5183
E: eleanore@ctaef.org
Website
Classroom Resources
September 2010-August 2011 school commodity calendar
Major Program Accomplishments or Outputs
The Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation crafted its 5th annual school year, agricultural commodity calendar. A calendar was sent to every 3rd grade classroom, state legislators and project sponsors. Five thousand calendars were distributed. An elementary school agricultural reading project, age appropriate for 2nd - 4th grade took stage during the spring and fall of 2010. Volunteers successfully placed 550 copies of Chicks & Chickens by Gail Gibbons. Hosting classroom teachers received teacher packets of educational materials. The school media center received a copy of the literary selection. Funding for this project was made possible by Kofkoff Egg Farms and the Connecticut Poultry Association.
CTAITC provided educational experiences in classrooms, at farm events, at community events and agricultural fairs. The experiences focused on Connecticut grown commodities, nutrition education, community gardening, beekeeping, school gardens, state wide hunger relief, farmland preservation, and the diversity of Connecticut agriculture.
One educator earned the WR mini-grant to develop a school and community beekeeping operation.
The CTAEF in partnership with business sponsors from the agricultural and non-agricultural community placed 1150 agriculturally accurate literary selections in school media centers throughout the state. Our list of titles appears on the calendar, selections were chosen from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Education list.
Ag in the Classroom partnered with food service directors (FSD) involved in the Farm to School initiative to provide education programs to their student population. FSD received materials to distribute to educators in their respective schools.
The website created for CTAEF was update and some education materials which complement our calendar have been listed for our educators. Our vision continues to have it serve as a link for agricultural resources for educators.
Major Program Impacts or Outcomes
Our Agricultural Commodity calendar was distributed to 3,200 3rd grade classrooms and over 150 state legislators and agency officials. The distributed calendar was accompanied with an evaluation. Our statistical results improved from the previous years. Teachers rated it highly for the content, activities and literary selections. We do not know how many educators actually use the calendar on a daily basis.
Four hundred, fifteen volunteers took part in the reading event. An estimated eight thousand students in 425 schools benefited from this event.
During 2010, ninety educational events took place. More than 100,000 children, youth and adults gleaned valuable knowledge, took part in hands on activities and selected hand outs with important information.
Sixty-five schools throughout the state received gifted copies of the literary selections featured on the calendar. School administrators, educators and media center staff expressed sincere appreciation for the donations. Over 70 sponsors made this program possible.
Food services directors actively involved in the Farm to School initiative were invited to have Ag in the Classroom volunteers provide educational events at their schools. Children learned about Connecticut farm commodities, their nutritional value, and product availability at seasonal farmers' markets. Literature from the Connecticut Department Agriculture was presented in packets for children to share with their families. Support for the Connecticut Farm to School Program, Connecticut Farmers' Markets and support for Connecticut farmland preservation has grown tremendously.
During 2010 six thousand visits have been made to the CTAEF website. Our printed materials, distributed at various events invites individuals to our website. We will continue to upgrade this site to serve as a link for agricultural resources for children, youth, educators and the general population.
Biosketch
I embrace the opportunity to serve my community and my state. I have been actively serving as the Connecticut Coordinator for Ag in the Classroom since March 2005.
I am a college-trained educator holding Connecticut certificates in Health and Physical Education, grades K-12; Special Education, grades K-12; Adult Education; and Administration.
I have earned a B.S. in Health and Physical Education, cum laude from Brooklyn College and a 6th year certificate in Health and Physical Education from the same institution. I earned a M.S. in Educational Administration from Pace University, New York and an additional M.S. from Southern Connecticut State University, Connecticut in Special Education.
Without reservation I look forward to implementing agricultural education programs. Seldom has a day gone by without having the opportunity to speak with an administrator, teacher, food service director or community leader regarding Connecticut agriculture. To date our program has reached several thousand individuals in the Nutmeg state. Our media coverage has helped reach others. Organizations in our state collaborate with us to widen our reach bringing agriculture education to many. We have had and continue to have the support of the Connecticut Department of Education, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education, the UCONN Cooperative Extension System and many agribusinesses in our state. All recognize the outstanding effort the Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation is putting forth.
I have a passion for bringing agriculture education to our citizens. I plan to continue volunteering my time to see to it that agricultural education programs stay viable and are accomplished. I am proud to represent Connecticut as the Coordinator for Ag in the Classroom under the Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation.