DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The demand for vocational agriculture teachers is rising as schools are increasingly incorporating agriculture programs into their curricula. More students require more classes, which in turn calls for more teachers.

The biggest program to train teachers is in Decatur, where Zach Shields is part of something that stretches from Chicago to East St. Louis.

“We have this first group of three teachers who are learning the field, and I’ve heard that our Decatur teachers have taken a leadership role alongside those in Chicago and Saint Louis,” Shields said. “They develop the curriculum, share it with peers, which aligns with our Schools Foundation model. By coaching the coaches and familiarizing them with the system, especially when they contribute to its creation, we can extend benefits to more students across various schools.”

As students progress through their education, they’ll have opportunities to learn about food origins and potentially join a vocational agriculture program. One such program is set to launch this fall at a new middle school in Decatur.