Amy Kidd, a teacher at Providence Gove, took part in last month’s National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy in Tulsa, Okla. (Courtesy photo)
Providence Grove’s Kidd participates in agricultural education program
CLIMAX — Amy Kidd says the most important part of her role as an agricultural teacher at Providence Grove is tending to the welfare of students’ education and development.
After taking part in a national program this summer, Kidd’s influence will extend to assisting teachers as well.
“I’m excited about sharing it with other teachers,” Kidd said.
She was one of 23 teachers from across the country selected to participate in last month’s National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy in Tulsa, Okla. She was the only representative from North Carolina.
“This is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Kidd said.
She applied for a spot in the academy, which is organized by the National Association of Agricultural Educators, in 2020, but that event was nixed before the selection stage because of the pandemic.
The weeklong academy was what Kidd described as inquiry-based and hands-on.
“We learned how to turn every lesson pretty much to be student-centered instead of teacher-led,” she said.
Based on the academy, Kidd will make a presentation at the national Future Farmers of America convention in October in Indianapolis. In late November/early December, she goes to Las Vegas for a presentation at the NAAE convention.
At Providence Grove, Kidd works alongside agriculture teacher Morgan Johnson, who’s an alum of the school. Kidd said her summer experience should be a boost to how students are taught here as well.
A native of New York’s Long Island, Kidd received a degree in animal science at North Carolina State. She began her teaching career with two years at Franklinton before beginning a nine-year stretch in 1999 at Eastern Randolph. When Providence Grove opened in 2008, she became a part of the first faculty at the new school.
“It has been an amazing career,” she said. “I can’t tell you how blessed I am.”
Kidd, who lives in Franklinville, holds a 12-month position at Providence Grove, where she started the FFA chapter.
“It just took off,” she said of the interest.
She said she’s particularly proud that 15 of her former students have gone on to teach agriculture.
“My students come first,” Kidd said. “This is why I teach. I’m always trying to find ways to keep them engaged. The kids make it amazing. I’m very, very grateful.”
This fall, she’ll take a group of Providence Grove students to the FFA convention. Eight students will be involved in two separate competitions.
