Windsor Teacher Recognized for teaching ag in the classroom

A Physical Education teacher from Windsor has been recognized for excellence in teaching by the National Agriculture in the Classrooms Organization.

It's one of the most highly competitive, highly prestigious awards presented within our organization. There were eight awards presented this year. Andy Klatt and physical education teacher from Windsor , Grandview Elementary was our national winner. Andy really does some amazing things and got his start attending one of our summer Agriculture Institutes

Jennifer Scharpe is Executive Director of the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture and is referring to the foundation's annual summer Food, Fiber, and More courses in which teachers learn how to bring ag into the classroom.

Klatt uses a school garden and an after-school garden club to teach students at his school about the importance of healthy eating and exercise This past year the garden received a $96,000 remodel and upgrade. Each grade level plants and cares for the different sections of the garden, which Klatt ties into concepts they learn in their other classes.

For example, Klatt's students use GPS to locate different points on the playground incorporating math, social studies, physical education, and orienteering skills while discovering how technology and precision agriculture are used to improve farming practices.

Klatt began an After School Garden Club where the students host an annual "Family Fitness Night" for community members. And through the Adopt-A-Farmer program, students correspond and then visit a dairy and a crop farm.

Using agricultural concepts in cross-curricular integration, has resulted in test scores of his students exceed state averages. Teachers earn professional development credits.