The Betty J. DeWitt Outstanding Educator Award, sponsored by the SC Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, was implemented to honor Betty J. DeWitt, a SC Farm Bureau Women's Committee member since 1975. With a background in teaching and youth work, her accomplishments represent a life dedicated to agriculture and education.
Eligibility
District certified teachers currently engaged in integrating agricultural concepts into non-vocational agriculture classroom settings at the pre-K to 12th grade levels are eligible.
Unsuccessful applicants from previous years may be resubmitted. Prior winners of this award are ineligible for future awards under this program.
Note: Teachers of high school agricultural education, or career and technical education are not eligible for this award.
Criteria for Selection
Teachers must integrate/utilize agricultural information within their classroom curriculum in an effort to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Instruction may include, but is not limited to: understanding the importance and value of agriculture in students’ daily lives; understanding the relationships among agriculture, food and fiber production, animals, health, energy systems, technology, economics, and the environment; identifying and understanding the connections between academic content areas and agricultural careers including, but not limited to, STEM careers; understanding the overall connectedness between STEM and agriculture. Innovative, integrated, and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged.
Prizes
Prizes include a $1000 cash award, a trip to the South Carolina Farm Bureau Convention to receive the award and a trip to the National Ag in the Classroom Conference. The winner will go on to compete for the national award, Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture.
Deadline for Entries
The deadline for entries is October 1.