Mulberry High’s Kathryn Gelb has been named the Polk County Farm Bureau Agriculture Teacher of the Year.
In addition, Kathleen Middle has received Program of the Year honors from the Farm Bureau.
Gelb has been noted for her dedication to MHS, and her passion for teaching students about agriculture’s real-world connections with hands-on learning.
“Mrs. Gelb has great rapport with her students, allowing her to challenge and excite them about agricultural opportunities,” said Jessica Anderson, PCPS’ assistant director of agriculture education. “She is well qualified for her position and has already made a lasting impact on the Mulberry agricultural program and Mulberry community.”
Under Gelb’s leadership, MHS made the list of “Florida’s Finest” FFA chapters this year from the Florida FFA Association. In addition, MHS earned a Premier Chapter designation, and Gelb received the Outstanding Early Career Award from the Florida Association of Agricultural Educators.
Kathleen Middle, the Polk County Farm Bureau’s Program of the Year, has thrived under the direction of teacher Julianne Ream. She has spent the past three years growing the program while emphasizing hands-on lessons.
“Mrs. Ream has taken on the Kathleen Middle School program and made tremendous strides in bringing a sense of community and pride to the KMS FFA chapter,” Anderson said. “Her dedication to her students, willingness to go the extra mile, and positive attitude to work through any challenges have helped to instill similar values in the students she teaches every day.”
Read more about these honorees in Central Florida Ag News: