National Association of Agricultural Educators
300 Garrigus Building, Lexington, KY 40546-0215
Voice: (859) 257-2224 or (800) 509-0204
Fax: (859) 323-3919 E-mail: naae@uky.edu
www.naae.org
News Release
For more information:
Julie Fritsch, NAAE Communications/Marketing Coordinator
Phone: (859) 257-2224
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 2014
Daniel Boone High School Agriculture Teacher Selected for Educator Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Leann Turner, agricultural educator at Daniel Boone High School in Gray, Tenn., is
one of only six individuals nationwide who received the Outstanding Young Member Award at the 2014
National Association of Agricultural Educators annual convention in Nashville, Tenn., November 18-22.
Turner uses her own background in animal science to create a rigorous curriculum for her students at Daniel
Boone High School. She teaches animal production and veterinary science pathways, as well as the CASE
Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources course. The rigor of the CASE AFNR course has
led to the school suggesting that students take it as a pre-requisite to biology. Turner believes it is important
to challenge students and keep her curriculum in pace with the ever-evolving industry of agriculture.
“Our programs should prepare students for the rigor of colleges, universities, and technical school while
still providing them with technical skills needed for immediate career entrance into the work force,” she
said.
Through Turner’s animal production pathway, students take an animal biotechnology course to learn about
the latest technologies of animal production. She covers current topics including cloning, embryo transfer,
and genetic modification in animals. Students have the opportunity to simulate creating their own
genetically modified organism by researching an animal and determining what genetic modification can be
made to help with issues such as genetic disorders or diseases. After thoroughly researching the chosen
genetic modification process, students give a fifteen minute professional proposal to the class that outlines
their solution.
A lifelong learner herself, Turner is actively involved in many professional associations. She was one of the
first teachers in Tennessee to become certified to teach the CASE AFNR course. After seeing the positive
effects of implementing the CASE model into her own curriculum, Turner trained as a lead teacher for the
course and now helps other agriculture teachers become certified to teach CASE AFNR.
An active member of NAAE, Turner attended the national convention last year as a Teacher Turn the Key
scholarship recipient and this past summer attended the DuPont National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador
Academy where she learned to implement inquiry-based learning into her agriscience instruction.
“It is of the utmost importance that we as teachers in agricultural education are willing to adapt and change
our instruction so that it best fits the students we currently serve,” said Turner. “No matter their individual
needs, I believe that the instruction must be meaningful, challenging and, most of all, consistent.”
Each of the 2014 NAAE Outstanding Young Member winners received special recognition at the NAAE
convention. John Deere sponsors the Outstanding Young Member program as a special project of the
National FFA Foundation.
NAAE is the professional organization in the United States for agricultural educators. It provides its’
nearly 8,000 members with professional networking and development opportunities, professional liability
coverage, and extensive awards and recognition programs. The mission of NAAE is “professionals
providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and
service.” The NAAE headquarters are in Lexington, Ky.
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