Name: Katelyn Pinkston
Location: Anderson County School District, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Class/content area taught: Agricultural Education (Veterinary Science, Equine Science, Introduction to Greenhouse and Crop Production, Floral Design, Animal Science, Greenhouse Technology, and Small Animal Technology)
What are you most excited about with your new career? The thing that I am most excited about with my new career is the opportunity for growth. I am excited for my personal and professional growth as a teacher, the growth that I hope my department experiences, and the growth that I hope my students can experience as they participate in my classes.
What you enjoy most about teaching: I love thinking through how I can provide learning experiences for my students. I enjoy utilizing all methods of teaching in my classroom, but I always want to think up experiences that I know my students will remember. That is what is most fun!
In what ways has your school/district supported you? They have supported me in numerous ways since I started back in the summer. The biggest project that they have supported so far is starting up a hydroponics program that will produce 128 lettuce heads a week for a Backpack Buddies food assistance program. It has been great having their support and encouragement to do more!
What are some specific things you believe KSU especially helped prepare you for your new career? All of the instruction on lesson planning really helped, because that is a big part of the job. I also think the agricultural education department prepared me for all of my extra duties as an FFA Advisor. I am so thankful for my time at Kansas State and in the agricultural education department!
Are there specifics about your background that make teaching the perfect fit for you? My dad was an agricultural education teacher for over 30 years. I grew up getting to see the lifestyle that an ag teacher leads, and I fell in love with it! I am so thankful for that experience, which led me to this career!
Suggestions/encouragement for new teachers: Time management is huge! If you use your time wisely throughout the day, then you can still have personal time in the evenings and on weekends. Set your priorities and figure out what needs to be done now and what can wait until later. Personal time is so important, so make sure you allow yourself to have it.
Bonus question, thanks to the Pandemic: COVID-19—How has the Pandemic shaped your classroom—the environment, safety precautions, etc.? How has it affected you as a new teacher? This has played a huge role in my first year. I am thankful that during this fall semester we were able to have in-person instruction for eight weeks.
- I also had hybrid students during that time, who did some in-person learning and some remote learning. With the different enrollment types, I had to think about how I could deliver in-person content and remote content in a similar way, so that all students were getting adequate educational experiences!
- Before the end of each class, we had to sanitize every desk in the classroom.
- We had to minimize our mingling during class, which made me adjust the way students interacted with each other.
- We had to have assigned seating for contract tracing purposes.
- We had to wear masks at all times.
Honestly, COVID has impacted so much, but being a first-year teacher has allowed me not to compare it to previous years. I am just rolling with the punches and working day by day. If I have learned anything, it is the importance of being flexible and willing to do what needs to be done to make it the best experience for the students.