Trending
Reach Cyber Charter School, a STEM-focused online public charter school for K-12 students in Pennsylvania, is bringing Future Farmers of America (FFA), one of the nation's best-known student leadership organizations, to its students in grades 9-12 becoming the first cyber charter school in Pennsylvania to launch a chapter. Students will be able to build leadership skills, explore careers and compete as members of a statewide and national community.
"At Reach Cyber, we believe career readiness should give students opportunities to explore their interests, develop real-world skills and see meaningful possibilities for their futures," said Jane Swan, CEO of Reach Cyber Charter School. "We want to show our students that meaningful, hands-on agricultural education can exist and thrive in a cyber environment."
Founded in 1928, FFA is a national student organization that prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Its motto, "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve," reflects its focus on learning by doing.
Cyber FFA chapters remain relatively uncommon among the more than 9,500 FFA chapters nationwide. Reach Cyber joins a small group of virtual schools finding new ways to bring the FFA experience to students learning online.
Despite its name, FFA is not just for students who plan to farm. Today's agricultural industry includes animal science, veterinary science, food science, biotechnology, environmental and natural resources, plant science, technology and business, among many other fields.
"FFA gives students a chance to explore interests they may not have considered before, discover the many career paths connected to agriculture, and find new ways to put their strengths to work," said JD Smith, Director of Careers and Belonging at Reach Cyber Charter School. "By bringing students together around shared interests and new experiences, we're creating more opportunities for them to build confidence, develop as leaders, and see how their skills can make an impact beyond the classroom."
The chapter builds on Reach Cyber's diverse Career Readiness offerings, which already include an Agriculture Career Course Program where students explore Introduction to Veterinary Science and Veterinary Science I, II and III. The FFA chapter will also include students from Reach Cyber's Skilled Trades Career Course Program, including Carpentry I, II and III, highlighting the connections between agriculture and fields such as construction, agricultural structures, mechanics, equipment and infrastructure.
Through its Agriculture and Skilled Trades Program Coordinators, Career Experiences, FFA, and partnerships with industry and community organizations, Reach Cyber is working to connect classroom learning with hands-on experiences, leadership development and exposure to professionals in the field.
For more information about Reach Cyber Charter School, visit ReachCyber.org.