Welcome to
Maryland Agriculture Teachers Association Inc.
Supporting Agricultural Education in Maryland one teacher at time!
MATA Teacher Spotlight
Sara Seiser
Middletown High School
How many years have you been teaching?:
Finishing up my 12 year of teaching
Where did you attend college and what degrees?
Bachelors Degree in Agriculture Education and Extension from West Virginia
Masters Degree in Special Education from Frostburg University
How many schools have you been at?
I have been at two schools so far in my teaching career. Frederick High School from 2010 - 2014 and Middletown High School from 2014 - present. My student teaching was completed at Linganore High School under the direction of Pat Beachy and Thomas Hawthorne.
Classes you teach?
Currently I am teaching the Horticulture pathway, Introduction to Agriculture and the Agriculture Mechanics Pathway.
Organizations you are part of and offices held:
Maryland Agriculture Teachers Association - serving on the blue print committee and previously held the office of membership chair.
FFA Alumni Member
ADGA, NAAE, and Farm Bureau
Best memory you have as an agriculture teacher:
I have had the opportunity to have a lot of great experiences with students as advisor. One of my favorite experiences was from when I first started teaching. FFA had put out an SAE idea of having students work with the guiding eyes dog training program. I mentioned the idea to my agriculture classes and a student came in the next day and told me my Mom said I can do the service dog project. I was not expecting my announcement to go past saying it to the class. I was so surprised I call to make sure with her Mom and they had already gone ahead and turned in her application. It was such a fun experience seeing continue her project over her next four years. Her service dog trainees went with us to conventions, leadership conference and afterschool activities. She had the opportunity to give a workshop to the ag teachers association. I value this experience so much because it reminds me to not count anything out and that students will continue to surprise you. The more years that I teach I am amazed at some of the awesome ideas and opportunities students create.
Whom has impacted your teaching role in Agricultural Education the most?
Mr. Staley my FFA advisor and my experience as a State FFA Officer impacted my teaching role the most. Without these two influences I would not have chosen a career in agricultural education. Since I have begun teaching I have had many others influence me. Ag teaching can be a very hard profession with long hours, always balancing family life and work life and often times being the only teacher in your area in the building. The support from others directly impacts my ability to be a quality educator.
Activities/hobbies you do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family going on hikes and family activities. I enjoy riding horses and raising dairy goats.
Interested in nominating a Maryland Agricultural Educator for the MATA Spotlight? Email: richard.stonebraker@fcps.org
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