Celeste Ball
Kutztown High School
Kutztown, PA

"Engaging students in the subject areas that I cover is not hard. What I present touches their lives in one way or another � either through the food they eat, the water they drink, or how agriculture impacts their lives. Students are eager to learn what affects them personally. The community and parents strongly need to be involved in the curriculum and in helping students reach personal goals."

"What sets Celeste apart from other teachers is the unusual lengths she is willing to go to engage her students in active learning. Celeste keeps her classes in constant motion, and the students respond with great effort and dedication. For both students and colleagues, Celeste has been an example of hard work, hard work, hard work, and more hard work. She is a model teacher of whom her school and community are proud."

Celeste involves students in hands-on projects in order to teach them to truly understand the science at work behind subject areas ranging from horticulture and floriculture to environmental science. "My classes provide both book learning and interactive experimental experiences. By providing a diverse mix of opportunities in each field of study, I try to get students to apply what they have learned to real life. If we are talking about poultry, then we incubate and hatch various types of chicks. We handle eggs, we break eggs and judge them, we fry eggs, and we eat eggs. In short, we study all the different components of poultry. I want students to truly understand and experience every aspect of the farm-to-table food connection and the environmental impact that humans have on their environment," says Celeste.

Other Highlights:

• Department Chairperson for Agricultural Sciences, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Industrial Arts
• Agricultural Education Advisory Committee, Penn State University, 2002
• Communicator Award in Educational Piece category for Pennsylvania Agriculture Extension 4-H Agents (PAE4-HA), 1995
• Communicator Award in News Story category for Pennsylvania Agriculture Extension 4-H Agents (PAE4-HA), 1994
• Top national entry in News Story category, 1994
• St. Luke Nursery School Board of Directors, 1987-2000
• Upper Bucks Vo-Tech School Horticulture Advisory Board, 1992-1999
• FFA Advisor for Kutztown High School
• Principal's Advisory Committee
• Member, Pennsylvania Agriculture Teacher's Association
• Member, The National Agriculture Teacher's Association
• Hobbies & interests include needlework, floral design, gardening, camping, reading, refinishing furniture, arts and crafts, bowling, volleyball, bird watching, church choir, and mini-orchard management