Teach Grand Challenges: Invasive Species - The Ultimate Challenger

Grand challenge in this episode: Invasive Species - The Ultimate Challenger

About the Challenge

The purpose of this project is to leverage a preexisting online professional development resource and its large following of SBA educators to create a more effective model of professional development where teachers engage in immersive experiences in agriculture, capture those experiences via the formats already used by Owl Pellets, and share them with their peers to develop an ever-growing community of practice around grand agricultural challenges founds within teachers’ local communities and FANH careers. One of the primary goals of this project is to re-engage SBA educators in the challenges, technology, and work of their local agricultural community – making grand challenges local.

Visit the Teach Grand Challenges website.

About the Guest

Melanie Berndtson is a 15 year Agriscience teacher from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.  She teaches in a single teacher department with courses including animal science, plant science, natural resource management, environmental science, introduction to agriscience, and leadership courses.  She teaches 100 students a year and directs the Grand Canyon FFA chapter.  Melanie is passionate about curriculum development and has worked on several projects creating new educational materials in the small animal science field.  She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband Greg and her beagles Sonny and Ivan when she is not teaching.