By Wendy Sweeter,
Reporter
Kasey Trocke officially began her first year of teaching in Lennox on Aug. 1, but she has already taken some students ton retreats. Photo: Wendy Sweeter
Lennox’s new ag instructor looks forward to keep up the traditions of the Lennox Sundstrom FFA Chapter while also incorporating some new curriculum.
Kasey Trocke officially began her first year of teaching in Lennox on Aug. 1, but she has already taken some students to West River Leadership Camp, held an officer retreat and helped students with their sheep and goats in the Ag Learning Lab.
Growing up in Milbank, she got her bachelor’s and master’s degree in agricultural education from South Dakota State University.
She did her student teaching in Arlington. Her master’s thesis was on science integration into the agriculture classroom, so when the 7-12 grade science position opened in Arlington she took it. She spent the last three years teaching science in Arlington and served as their assistant FFA adviser.
“I was the only science teacher in the building. It was a lot to undertake, but then I look at this new opportunity here and I’m like if I can do that I can get anything done,” Trocke said.
When her husband got a new job in Sioux Falls working in IT at SAb Biotherapeutics, Trocke began looking for a new position. She has been looking for an ag teaching job and many districts had ag teacher openings including Tri-Valley, Sioux Falls, Tea Area and Canton. She applied at some of those but was turned down because other candidates had been teaching ag for years.
When Lennox’s position opened up after two-year ag teacher Brady Duxbury left to teach in his home district of Wessington Springs, Trocke applied and got the job.
“When it’s Lennox Sundstrom FFA, it’s a big thing. I knew about this program when I was growing up and I come from one of those chapters where it’s such a big legacy where a lot of things were accomplished. It makes me prideful to be able to know that I can help grow the traditions that have already been here,” she said.
Trocke plans to at least keep everything that’s been going so far and grow upon different traditions. She also hopes to expand some curriculum to get students and the community involved. One thing in particular she wants her welding students to do is create metal sculptures to put on the nature trail behind the school.
She is also looking forward to bringing more technology into the classroom.
“Agriculture has been my biggest thing. I’ve wanted to get back into so now that this opportunity came up I’m super excited to get back into it. It’s a little daunting to be stepping foot into a big chapter like this, but I’m excited for the challenge. It’s a great opportunity,” Trocke said.