Agriculture teacher Melanie Bloom of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, has been named her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Melanie Bloom

It is always exciting for me to share the story of an outstanding educator who has earned accolades for her work in public schools. Today I share the story of Melanie Bloom, a vocational education teacher from Idaho. She has been named her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Melanie teaches  agricultural education courses at Sioux Central Community School District in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. She has taught there for the past 16 years. In her district, more than 25% of all middle and high school students are enrolled in agricultural education classes and are members of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). In her classroom, Melanie encourages her students to explore diverse careers in the agriculture industry, and then to develop career skills that prepare them for those careers. She also teaches them to make informed choices about food, fibers, and natural resources. 
 
To accomplish these goals, Melanie employs inquiry and project-based learning strategies. In addition, she designs and leads professional development sessions. She has influenced agricultural educators nationwide as a curriculum developer for the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education initiative. Melanie also serves in several agricultural advisory roles, most notably the Iowa Advisory Council on Agricultural Education, where she assists with identifying standards, escalating agricultural opportunities for all students, and promoting agricultural education as a career. She has also served as a beginning teacher mentor and faculty member in an Iowa teacher preparation program.

Melanie earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Education and Animal Science, and her Master’s degree in Agricultural Education, all from Iowa State University. Currently she is a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri-Columbia, working on her degree in Agricultural Education and Leadership Development.