Trent Van Leuven, a Career and Technical Education teacher from Idaho, has been named his state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Idaho Dept. of Education
It is always a pleasure to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Trent Van Leuven, a secondary level Career and Technical Education teacher from Idaho. He has been named his state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.
Trent teaches agriculture education to students in grades eight through twelve at Mackay Junior/Senior High School in Mackay, Idaho. In his classroom, he places focus on providing experiential learning opportunities in the nine courses he instructs. “Students work on community projects, and every student serves on a committee,” explains Trent. “One such project is the annual Christmas bazaar that boasts 54 vendors. Students painted the fire hydrants in town last year, and this year they have made markers to help emergency services find hydrants in the deep snow,” he continues. Trent constructs curriculum that utilizes a fish lab, three greenhouses, and a welding lab. He also invites speakers and experts to contribute to content instruction.
In addition to classroom instruction, Trent organizes annual trips and agriculture tours with students. To date, he has traveled more than 40,000 miles through 35 states with students. And, as a special bonus, he arranges for the students enrolled in his courses to earn college credits through a dual credit program.
As if all this were not enough, Trent serves as the advisor of his school’s chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), eighth grade class adviser, and the local union president on his campus. He frequently steps up to drive a bus route or trip when resources are stretched thin.
Trent earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Idaho in 2009. In a career that spans 14 years, he has spent the last nine at Mackay.
To read an article about Trent and the importance of Career and Technical Education published by the Idaho State Department of Education, click on this link.
