WAYNE — Christie Frederick, a fifth-grade teacher at Fremont STARS Elementary School in the Wayne County Public Schools system, has been named a 2019–20 Kenan Fellow. Her fellowship was made possible through a partnership between Wayne County Farm Bureau, North Carolina Pork Council, North Carolina Farm Bureau and the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at N.C. State University.
Frederick, who has been teaching for 12 years, is among 27 Kenan Fellows from across North Carolina who have been selected to participate in the 2019–20 fellowship year. Beginning in June, she will participate in an immersive summer internship with the Wayne County Farm Bureau, the North Carolina Pork Council, and industry experts from the NC Farm Bureau Federation to engage in real-world experiences related to the pork industry and its “We Care” initiative (ncpork.org) in North Carolina. She will use her experiences to create the content for a North Carolina-specific Pork Ag Mag that can be digitally dispersed, printed, and distributed, using the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Ag Mags and Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Ag Mags as models. This newly developed STEM-supported teaching tool will be a valuable resource for teachers, students, and parents.
“Wayne County Farm Bureau looks forward to working with Christie to help her make meaningful contributions to agriculture education tools that will reach students nationwide,” said Lorenda Overman, of Wayne County Farm Bureau.
Educators are chosen as Kenan Fellows following a competitive application process. Kenan Fellows are selected based on their potential to build leadership capacity through the fellowship; desire to engage students in critical thought and project-based learning; and a commitment to share the resources and products developed during the fellowship with colleagues at the school, district level, and potentially statewide.
“By interning in a local industry, Kenan Fellows gain valuable insights into the skills students will need to be successful in college and careers,” said Elaine Franklin, director of the Kenan Fellows Program. “With the support of partners such as the Wayne County Farm Bureau, North Carolina Farm Bureau and the North Carolina Pork Council we are able to reach more educators in rural areas where teachers often have fewer opportunities for professional learning.”
The fellowship is supported by 80 hours of professional development provided by the Kenan Fellows Program that focuses on building leadership skills and delivering proven instructional strategies. The Fellow will be awarded a $5,000 stipend and must remain in the classroom while completing the year-long fellowship.
So far, more than 450 teachers statewide have gone through the Program, which has been recognized as a national model. Teachers who complete the Program say they feel a deeper connection to their community and grow professionally as part of a solutions-driven network of teacher leaders.
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About NC Pork Council: The North Carolina Pork Council, chartered in 1962, represents farmers and their business partners who produce a wide range of beloved products while supporting more than 50,000 jobs with an economic impact of $11 billion in the state. The North Carolina Pork Council focuses in areas of promotion, education, research and public policy in serving as the respected voice of the pork industry.
About NC Farm Bureau: North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation was formed in 1936 as a non-profit general farm organization to serve and provide a unified voice for the interests and needs of the farming community. Today, North Carolina Farm Bureau serves as an advocate for our members at the local, state, national and international levels— providing educational, economic, public affairs, marketing, and various other services to our members. North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation remains steadfast in the mission to advocate for farm and rural families and has grown into the largest general farm organization in the state.
About NC Farm Bureau: North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation was formed in 1936 as a non-profit general farm organization to serve and provide a unified voice for the interests and needs of the farming community. Today, North Carolina Farm Bureau serves as an advocate for our members at the local, state, national and international levels— providing educational, economic, public affairs, marketing, and various other services to our members. North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation remains steadfast in the mission to advocate for farm and rural families and has grown into the largest general farm organization in the state.