Breese District 12 teacher Sandra Jansen, 2027 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, is pictured with (from left) Robert Gerstenecker, Clinton County AITC Committee; Jansen; Brad Conant, Clinton County Farm Bureau manager; Susan Kleiboeker, Clinton County AITC coordinator; Kevin Daugherty with Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, and two students holding the banner — Manning Petterson (left) and Keegan Agin (right). A Breese Elementary School teacher received quite the surprise Friday afternoon when she learned she had been named the 2027 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) Teacher of the Year.
Sandra Jansen of Breese District 12 Elementary School was selected for the statewide honor in recognition of her dedication to inspiring and engaging students through agricultural education.
Jansen, who teaches social studies, was surprised Friday afternoon with a special celebration that included third- and fourth-grade students, her family, and representatives from the Clinton County Farm Bureau and Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom.
Students were in on the surprise, cheering and congratulating Jansen as she received the recognition.
Breese District 12 teacher Sandra Jansen is pictured with her family when she was announced as the 2027 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. "I'm still in shock," Jansen said. "I'm a little overwhelmed. I wasn't ready for this."
For Jansen, agriculture is more than just an occasional classroom lesson. It is something she incorporates into her teaching on a regular basis, helping students understand the important role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.
"We do a lot of talking about agriculture in the classroom," Jansen said.
Clinton County Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator Susan Kleiboeker is who nominated Jansen for the award. Kleiboeker said Jansen’s dedication to incorporating agriculture into her daily lessons is what made her stand out.
Third- and fourth-graders from District 12 Elementary School designed posters for their social studies teacher Mrs. Sandra Jansen during a surprise Friday afternoon when she was announced as the 2027 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. Kleiboeker said Jansen regularly utilizes agricultural lesson plans and educational resources provided through the Farm Bureau, finding ways to connect agriculture to the subjects she teaches.
One example is an entire unit devoted to the dairy industry, a subject close to Jansen's heart since she grew up on a dairy farm herself.
Kleiboeker said she nominated Jansen for the same award last year, when she finished third in the statewide competition. This year, Jansen earned first place among nominees from across Illinois.
Kevin Daugherty, Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom education director, emphasized the significance of the statewide recognition.
"We have over 40,000 teachers that we work with annually," said Daugherty.
Daugherty said Jansen was nominated by Clinton County, and a panel of judges reviewed the nominations before selecting her as the statewide winner.
Out of the many educators involved in agricultural education throughout Illinois, Jansen's efforts in the classroom helped her rise to the top.
Along with the honor, Jansen will be formally recognized during the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting this December in Chicago.
She also will receive a trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, scheduled for next summer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and serve as the Illinois nominee for the USDA National AITC Teacher Award.
For Jansen, the recognition was both unexpected and exciting, serving as a reminder that the lessons she shares with her students are making an impact beyond the classroom.
