Career and Technical Education instructor leads national organization Ray Nash, a Mississippi agriculture teacher for more than a decade, recently was named president of the National Council for Agricultural Education (NCAE). Nash, a teacher at Biggersville High School in Corinth, holds national certifications for classroom and online teaching. Nash’s extensive teaching experience in agricultural and environmental science technology will help him lead the NCAE–more commonly referred to as “The Council”–in examining emerging issues facing school-based agricultural programs and providing solutions to ensure quality education. Dr. Karen C. Hutchison of the Delaware Department of Education said, “As a past president of the NCAE, I know how important it is to have leaders with passion, commitment and a solid knowledge of school-based agricultural education. In selecting Dr. Ray Nash as its president, The Council board found someone who meets all of these requirements. Ray has proven leadership skills developed while serving as president of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), and he has brought vision and effective administration to The Council. The Council board is fortunate to have him at the helm.” Before becoming a teacher, Nash worked in the agricultural chemical industry as a sales representative for Ciba Crop Protection in the citrus and vegetable markets in Florida. Even when he worked in sales, the company used his experience as a sales trainer, due both to his education and natural ability.
Connections Spring 2011
“Teaching was always destined to be my chosen profession. I was greatly inspired by a teacher I had,” Nash said. Spending the past 15 years teaching the intricacies of plant and animal sciences, what Nash loves most about teaching is “seeing the students succeed in learning, inand outside the classroom. Through hands-on projects students develop a project from concept to completion. They learn ‘real-world’ concepts by working through the details of a project. It gives them a chance to make mistakes, and learn and grow in a safe knowledge-based environment,” he explained. The one thing Nash hopes his students take away from his classes and instruction is for them to be critical thinkers and problem solvers “to analyze situations and be able to have the tools and skills to solve problems in any situation,” he said. Serving in several leadership roles within the agricultural education profession and also as a past NAAE president, Nash models his belief of serving the profession and getting involved. He said, “First of all, it provides a positive example for my students. I encourage them to go beyond what they would normally be doing in life and give back to the community and their future profession. More importantly, it offers an example to my students that as professionals we have a responsibility to ensure that careers in agriculture continue to make a positive global impact for society.”
Since the beginning of Nash’s career, he has seen agricultural education transform into a sciencebased education, allowing students to transfer the theories and formulas they learn in biology and math and apply that knowledge to a real world situation, realizing the practical importance of their education. “The only way I’m able to give is because of the support of my colleagues that I teach with at Biggersville. Thanks to their support, the support of the high school, and the school district administration, we’ve been able to have a positive impact on agricultural education, and I’m most grateful,” he concluded.
“Teaching was always destined to be my chosen profession. I was greatly inspired by a teacher I had,” Nash said. Nash is an alumnus of Mississippi State University, where he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture and extension education. For more information, please visit www.msstate.edu. The Council, strives to stimulate positive growth in agricultural education. Since its beginning in December 1983, the organizaion has provided leadership for stakeholders in agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems education. For more information, please visit www. teamaged.org/council/.
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