University of Kentucky alumnus and Carter G. Woodson Academy agriculture teacher Jacob Ball was recently recognized with the national Milken Educator Award — honoring exceptional educators across the country for their innovation and excellence, including a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize.
Often called the "Oscars of Teaching," the award empowers recipients, like Ball, to continue inspiring their students in pursuing teaching as a career.
As a boy growing up on his family’s small farm in Culvertown, Kentucky, Ball's passion for agriculture began years before his teaching career. In high school, Ball enrolled in agriculture courses and participated in his local Future Farmers of America (FFA) club. He was also selected for the Governor’s Scholars Program, which opened scholarship opportunities and doors at in-state, public universities.
"I knew that I had an interest in agriculture. After taking a few visits, I knew that UK was the place for me,” Ball said. “The opportunities offered along with how it felt like home made it an easy decision. I was 100% all in with attending UK and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education in 2011 from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and later an education specialist degree from the UK College of Education Department of Educational Leadership Studies in 2018, he pursued his two loves: agriculture and teaching.
“The University of Kentucky has been one of the most important factors to my success in the classroom and my career,” Ball said. “When I graduated, I was prepared with the skills necessary to get me started in the classroom. I still use my experiences from UK to explain concepts to students. The network that I established at UK helped me build my contacts across the entire agriculture industry, which provides opportunities for my students outside of the classroom.”
One of his former professors, Lu Young, Ed.D., said Ball exemplifies the qualities of a Milken Award winner in everything he does.
“As a student in our ed leadership program, he always strived for excellence and brought his full commitment to developing as a leader — always keeping the best interests of his students in mind,” said Young, associate clinical professor and director of professional preparation programs in the Educational Leadership Studies department.
"Jacob was an outstanding student and has grown into an outstanding educator, as this award shows,” said Justin Bathon, Ph.D., J.D., associate professor and chair in Educational Leadership Studies. “In particular, his dedication and clarity of purpose were always apparent to us. Thus, it is no surprise that after years of dedication to serving students, such recognitions follow. As Jacob highlighted in his acceptance speech, we share the call for more men to consider teaching as a career, and we would hope they exhibit similar characteristics to what Jacob demonstrates on a daily basis."
Ball currently teaches agriculture to sixth-12th graders at Carter G. Woodson Academy, which primarily serves young students of color, remaining committed to opening the world of agricultural careers to his students in the classroom.
His curriculum includes a focus on minority contributions to agriculture. For instance, Ball’s students created an Agriculture Wall of Fame, recognizing contributions of Hispanic and Black farmers across the United States.
Source: uky.edu
Photo Credit: university-of-kentucky
Categories: Kentucky, Education