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School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker
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WIU's Baker Wins State Mentoring Award

May 22, 2017

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker has been named the recipient of the 2017 Illinois Teacher Mentor award.

Baker was named director of WIU's School of Agriculture in June 2014. He joined WIU's faculty in August 1999 and served as the school's interim director twice.

Baker will be presented with the award at the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers (IAVAT) conference June 20 in Bloomington, IL.

"I have been very blessed to work in a state that still believes that mentoring new professionals is a high priority," Baker said of his award. "I have mentored teachers on a variety of levels, from working with veteran teachers on their research projects to offering internship opportunities to high school students who are interested in pursuing teaching as a career."

Baker said he was encouraged to apply for the award by IAVAT and the win now qualifies him to move on to a regional competition. The award program provides incentives for experienced teachers to become mentors for beginning teachers, as well as a way to say thank you to the experienced teachers who influenced them.

"I have always felt that mentoring was an essential component to my faculty position here at WIU," said Baker. "It is an honor and a privilege to represent Illinois at the regional level and hopefully at the national level in the area of Teacher-Mentor."

The current IAVAT president is Corrine Galvan, one of two agriculture teachers at West Prairie High School in Sciota, IL.

For more information about the award, visit naae.org/resources/awards/index.cfm#tm. For more information about the WIU School of Ag, visit wiu.edu/agriculture.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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