Cooper High School teacher Sam Bettes was one of those honored for his 40-year tenure at the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (VATAT) annual Professional Development Conference recently held in Waco, Texas.
Agricultural science teachers spent the week attending professional development workshops, training classes and general sessions with motivational speakers to enhance their current teaching methods and keep up with the latest curriculum developments in agricultural education and technology.
Recipients with 40 or more years of VATAT tenure are honored with a commemorative plaque and lapel pin. Forty-year tenure recipients also receive a VATAT watch. Among Bettes were Kirk Edney, IMS; David Howell, Cotton Center High School; Joe Waldrum, Deweyville; and Randall Williams, TAMU-Kingsville to receive tenure award.
“The VATAT is proud to recognize the achievements of our members and the dedication of our supporters,” said Barney McClure, executive director of the VATAT, in a press release.
More than 1,600 agricultural science teachers in Texas are impacting more than 125,000 students enrolled in agricultural education classes at the secondary level. The VATAT is a professional organization for agricultural science teachers and supporters of agricultural science. The Association informs agriculture teachers about the latest agricultural education practices, encourages higher standards of teaching agriculture and provides agriculture education a unified voice in the state legislature. Celebrating 75 years, the VATAT is headquartered in Austin, and its mission is preparing educators to develop 21st Century leaders in agriculture through excellence in education, citizenship and cooperation.
