Bartow High’s Lexi Sanchez and Westwood Middle to Receive Polk County Farm Bureau Awards
It’s National Teach Ag Day, so how about some awesome ag news from our schools!
We’ve just learned that Bartow High’s Lexi Sanchez will be named Teacher of the Year by the Polk County Farm Bureau. In addition, Westwood Middle FFA (led by teacher Dawn Coatney) will receive the Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Ag Program of the Year Award.
Sanchez and Westwood will be honored next month during the Farm Bureau’s annual membership meeting. They’ll also be featured in an upcoming issue of Central Florida Ag News.
Sanchez was selected this year for the National Association of Agricultural Educators’ Turn the Key program, which recognizes outstanding young ag teachers and provides professional development.
“I teach to be an educator, but also a role model,” Sanchez says. “I teach students life skills such as time management, responsibility, dedication … I create newfound passions and hobbies, and new ideas for future careers.”
Meanwhile, Westwood Middle’s FFA program has been on a tear. Last year, Westwood received the Premier Chapter Award from the Florida FFA Association; Lake Gibson and Mulberry High schools were also named Premier Chapters.
Westwood was also included among “Florida’s Finest” FFA chapters by the Florida FFA Association, and the program received a two-star National Chapter Award from the National FFA Organization. Westwood and teacher Dawn Coatney will be recognized on stage in November at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.
