Category: Educator of the Year

Congratulations to our 2023 Educator of the Year!

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Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom would like to congratulate Jamie Keisel, our 2023 Educator of the Year. Ms. Keisel currently teaches 3rd Grade at Greybull Elementary School.

Keisel is active in her school, local community, and WAIC programs. She has been involved with writing, revising, and teaching the Wyoming Stewardship Project (WSP) in addition to participating in the annual Bookmark & Beyond contest. Keisel teaches lessons from both the Agriculture and Outdoor Recreation and Tourism units to both third-grade classes at Greybull Elementary.

Jamie Keisel teaches a lesson from the Wyoming Stewardship Project during homecoming week.

Keisel’s fellow third-grade teacher, Misty Hernandez commented, “Jamie teaches our students to be good stewards of the land through her own examples and stories about the land and livestock that she takes care of in her own life. When the students can see real-life connections from her it increases their buy-in to what she is teaching. Jamie truly loves teaching our students about agriculture in Wyoming and how to take care of our land and resources.”

Lessons come to life for her students when Keisel brings in guest speakers from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Conservation District, and agricultural community. Her students write letters to local ranchers asking about stewardship practices before taking a field trip to see the ranch in person.

As the 2023 Educator of the Year, Keisel will be awarded a cash prize of $2500 through Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom.  The award is funded by the Vermillion Ranch, the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, and Mantha Phillips.

Congratulations, Jamie!

Congratulations to our 2021 Educator of the Year!

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Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC) would like to congratulate Reva Lobatos, the 2021 Educator of the Year. Ms. Lobatos currently teaches 4th Grade at Fort Washakie Elementary in Fremont County.

Lobatos is active in her school, education communities, and WAIC programs.  She has been involved with writing, revising, and teaching the Wyoming Stewardship Project (WSP) over the past four years.  Lobatos commented, “Using the Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom materials provided my students with information about the state they live in and inspired many of them to talk their grown-ups into exploring more of the state. Not only have we talked about caring for the land, water, and animals, but we have also introduced the idea of recycling and its impact on future generations. Students are becoming educators among their families as well. It is very inspiring!”

Over the past four years, Lobatos has taught the WSP to her fourth-grade students on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The lessons provide a meaningful way for Lobatos to discuss natural resources, the economic impacts of those resources, and caring for the land. This year, in her virtual classroom, Lobatos utilizes resources from WSP as she and her students explored Devils Tower and a Wyoming trona mine through virtual field trips.

Reva summarized her experience, saying, “I believe in this program, I truly use it, and I am always inspired by the outcomes. I also appreciate the effort that has been put into producing such an exceptional curriculum. I am very thankful for the virtual adaptations this year!”

As the 2021 Educator of the Year, Lobatos will be awarded a cash prize of $2,500 through Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom.  The award is funded by the Vermillion Ranch Limited Partnership, Mantha Phillips, and the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Congratulations Reva!

Congratulations to our 2020 Educator of the Year!

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5th Grade Students learn about stewardship in Yellowstone National Park as they simulate a geyser.

Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC) would like to congratulate Marissa Cornelison, the 2020 Educator of the Year.  Mrs. Cornelison currently teaches 5th Grade at Mountain View Elementary in Uinta County.

Cornelison is active in her school, community, and WAIC programs.  She has been involved with writing, revising, and teaching the Wyoming Stewardship Project over the past three years.  Cornelison commented, “I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to be a part of the Stewardship Project in many aspects.  I am constantly telling the people I meet about this wonderful project I am a part of and sharing why I think it is so exceptional.”

Over the last two years, Cornelison has taught the Wyoming Stewardship Project to every 5th Grade student at Mountain View Elementary.  Cornelison appreciates the unbiased way information is presented, and the sense of stewardship and state pride the lessons inspire in her students.  In support of Cornelison’s award, Toni Martin wrote, “Marissa is a skilled teacher… Peers, parents, and community members recognize her work ethic and dedication to her students.”

Kim Dolezal, Assistant Superintendent of Uinta County School District #4, commented, “Marissa is a true ambassador for Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom.” WAIC is grateful for Cornelison’s continued enthusiasm and support of our educational programs.

As the 2020 Educator of the Year, Cornelison will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000 through Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom.  The award is funded by Mantha Phillips and the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Congratulations Marissa!