Region V Secretary
Georgia
Email
Ruby McCracken teaches agricultural education at Bagley Middle School in Georgia. She has been there for three years. She previously taught high school agriculture. Her subjects have included, Basic Agriculture, Animal Science, Horticulture, Agricultural Mechanics, Wildlife Management, and Leadership Development. Four of those years were spent teaching in Tennessee. Ruby currently serves her state as President of the Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association with a state membership and NAAE membership of over 700 teachers, student teachers and state staff.
Ruby studied at University of Tennessee, Freed Hardeman University, and Murray State University. She has been recognized by her school as “Teacher of the Year” as well as the “District Teacher of the Year.” With the need to support and retain teachers, she was selected to serve as one of the states first Agricultural Education Mentors to first year teachers and a supervisor to student teachers.
With a philosophy of maintaining a well rounded program, she has students that show livestock, compete in Career and Leadership Development Events - competing from area to national events, and participate in numerous community service opportunities, as well as earning multiple community service awards. Her curriculum is very diversified, utilizing a greenhouse, small classroom animals, and science labs, as she is a certified CASE instructor in middle school instruction. Her program has been recognized as a FFA 3 Star National Chapter and maintained 100 percent FFA student membership.
“I have reached a point in my career where I am a product of teachers that believed in me and contributed to my knowledge and success over the years. It is my time to give back. I want to see young agricultural teachers feel supported, find purpose and success in their profession, and experience joy in the job they do.” -Ruby McCracken
