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Walla Walla teacher Peggy Payne describes hands-on agricultural science program
Summary
Peggy Payne, an agricultural science teacher at Walla Walla High School, describes an 18-year career and a hands-on curriculum that includes hydroponics, horticulture, biotechnology and student engineering projects such as batteries and windmills.
Peggy Payne, an agricultural science teacher at Walla Walla High School, described her 18-year tenure with Walla Walla Public Schools and outlined a hands-on curriculum that blends plant science, engineering and applied laboratory work.
Payne said the program emphasizes both career preparation and scientific investigation. "We're actually growing plants, hydroponically and looking at the result of photosynthesis in terms of growth rate, and then with genetics, the traits that we see," she said, describing lab work that lets students follow plant development from seedling to harvestable crop.
She described projects that introduce electrical concepts through practical builds. "For the freshman class, we're making batteries. We are creating windmills that are able to pump water. We use circuit boards and honestly, this was kind of the eye opener for me," Payne said, adding that circuit-board work lets students manipulate resistance and amperage and observe effects such as bulb brightness.
Payne traced her path to teaching from a background in botany and applied research. She said she attended the University of Maine as a botany major, worked on mycology research for The Nature Conservancy, pursued graduate work in forest genetics at Michigan State University and worked about a decade as a poplar geneticist for Boise Cascade before moving into education.
Payne said she was initially hired to teach biology at Walla Walla High School and later took on full-time agricultural science teaching, adding biotechnology and physical science to her course load. She noted she taught AP biology for 10 years before shifting to a curriculum with more plant- and career-focused labs.
She closed by identifying herself with the district and sharing personal motivations: "I'm Peggy Payne, and I am Walla Walla Public Schools," and saying she enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with her family.
The transcript does not record any formal proposals or votes tied to these remarks.
