Edmond teacher’s creativity earns her Ag in the Classroom honor
EDMOND — Exciting is the best word to describe Debra Deskin’s second-grade classroom at Orvis Risner Elementary, according to a news release.
Students, parents and colleagues say Deskin brings a special blend of fun, excitement and inclusiveness to her lesson planning.
Deskin’s creativity has earned her the title of 2017 Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.
In her 13 years of teaching, she has used many lessons from the award-winning Ag in the Classroom curriculum to help her students develop agriculture literacy.
She believes so strongly in the importance of knowing where food and clothing come from that she has presented sessions at two national conferences and has been a presenter four times at the state conferences. She has been an Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year finalist three times.
Integrating agricultural topics into elementary teaching subjects is a passion. She models “lifelong learning” for her students by planning new lessons and making connections between her school and agricultural businesses.
“I make it a priority to construct meaningful lessons with a projectbased and hands-on approach,” Deskin said.
Deskin teaches concepts using the whole-child approach that helps each child comprehend the subject being taught. It is part of her commitment to welcoming different learning styles in her classroom.
To learn more about the curriculum, go to www.agclassroom.org/ ok.