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Wheeling Park students, teacher showcase expansion of ag CTE and FFA success
Summary
Wheeling Park High School staff and students briefed the board on an expanding agriculture Career & Technical Education program — six courses, supervised agricultural experiences, a new animal-systems pathway, hydroponics and FFA competition successes — and asked for board support.
Wheeling Park High School’s agriculture CTE teacher and students described a growing program that combines classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experiences and FFA activities, telling the Ohio County Schools board that the program prepares students for careers and has yielded competition success.
The teacher outlined a three-circle model underpinning instruction and said the program now offers six one-credit courses, will add an animal systems pathway in the fall, and runs a greenhouse and a hydroponics unit. He noted the program uses CASE curriculum and has earned a West Virginia Grown designation for products the students market.
"FFA has given us the chance to grow, the chance to learn, the chance to drive our career paths into a direction that we are passionate about," Jacob Baze, a senior and president of the Wheeling Park FFA chapter, told the board. Baze listed state and regional competition results and said the chapter will represent West Virginia FFA at the national convention in October.
Board members praised the program and offered to help with publicity, partnerships and hands-on visits. The teacher and student described Supervised Agricultural Experience placements — from paid work to market sales — and noted that national FFA policy will make all students in an ag class members of FFA beginning with the 2025–26 school year.
The board signaled informal support; no formal votes were required. The teacher provided a printed list of activities and upcoming events for board members and asked the board to help connect the program with community partners to expand student opportunities.
