FFA adviser warns local chapter may go dormant as teacher certification window closes

Becky Teler, a first-grade teacher and the district's FFA adviser, told the board the local FFA chapter faces a certification deadline that could force the program into dormancy.

"If you don't know who I am, I'm Becky Teler. I teach first grade at Kuster Elementary. I'm also the FFA adviser," she said, and explained that the National FFA Association requires a certified facilitator for chapter activities. She said the district had a three-year leeway to obtain certification for a facilitator and that the leeway is expiring. "This would be our last year," she said, adding that interested students have graduated or exhausted online course options and that she currently does not have a teacher with the necessary certification to keep the chapter active.

Teler described the program's benefits beyond agriculture — leadership, broadcasting experience and connections to local natural-resources agencies — and noted that the district has facilities and community resources that could support FFA if a certified facilitator can be obtained. Board members suggested recruiting or supporting a staff member to pursue certification and noted the chapter could remain dormant (not lost) until a facilitator is available.

Why it matters: FFA provides career-technical and leadership opportunities for students; losing active status would limit competition and extracurricular experiences until a certified teacher is in place.

Next steps: Board and administrators discussed options to identify or support a staff member to pursue certification; no action to fund a new position was taken at the meeting.