Beard receives 25-year award

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany High School ag instructor Chris Beard recently earned a 25-year tenure award from the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (ATAT) at the annual summer Professional Development Conference.

Beard received the recognition during the Friday night final session of the five-day event, held July 25-29 in Corpus Christi.

Tenure awards are a  membership benefit given in five-year increments to members who have dedicated themselves to teaching and supporting  agricultural science.

Beard has actually been teaching ag classes for 26 years, but was only part-time when he started at Albany ISD in 1996 alongside full-time ag educator Jim Leech. Beard spent the remainder of the school day coaching and assisting in other types of classes.

He is beginning his 27th year at Albany High School.

The ATAT conference gives agricultural science teachers a chance to attend  professional development workshops, training classes, and general sessions with motivational speakers to enhance their  current teaching methods and keep up with the latest agricultural education and technology developments.

“The Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas is proud to recognize the achievements of our members and the dedication  of our supporters,” said Ray Pieniazek, ATAT Executive Director.

The Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas is a professional organization for agricultural education teachers and  supporters. The Association informs members about the latest agricultural education practices, encourages higher standards  of teaching, and provides a unified voice for agriculture education in the state legislature.

Celebrating more than 80 years,  the ATAT is headquartered in Austin, and its mission is to prepare educators to develop 21st Century leaders in agriculture  through excellence in education, citizenship, and cooperation.