WILLOW WOOD — Symmes Valley agriculture teacher Beth Myers recently became one of the few agriculture teachers in Ohio to complete a special program offered through the Dupont National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy.

The program is designed to help agriculture science teachers implement new teaching methods in their classrooms.

“It’s a national program,” said Myers. “I was one of the 50 chosen (to attend) out of 250 applicants.”

When it came to attending the academy, Meyers said school superintendent Jeff Saunders was supportive of her decision to pursue the program.

“It wasn’t a cost to my school system,” said Myers. “It’s put on by DuPont. The whole aspect behind the academy was about us teaching inquiry-based.”

Inquiry-based instruction focuses on student-led teaching where students ask questions in the classroom instead of the instructor primarily facilitating the questions, said Myers.

“It’s more about the students being more hands-on and thinking for themselves,” said Myers.

While attending the academy, Myers completed 50 hours of professional development and got a taste of what it is like to be a student in an agriculture class.

“I was spending 50 hours in the seat of the student,” said Myers. “I liked it. We did all kinds of labs.”

Myers received a certification recognizing her completion of the program and the hours that she spent in the academy will go toward the requirements for maintaining her teacher’s certification.

The instruction she received through the academy has had a positive impact on Myer’s classes.

“I’ve been able to engage students more,” said Myers. “I hope to only continue.”