Randolph High School Agricultural Teacher Receives Award, New Truck
Keith Gundlach of Randolph High School will be Recognized Thursday Night
Randolph, Wisconsin (February 10, 2011) - Randolph High School teacher, Keith Gundlach, has been named one of six Outstanding Agricultural Educational Teachers in the country by the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE).
Gundlach will be recognized for the award before tip of the Randolph High School men's basketball game against Waupun Christian at Randolph High School on Thursday, February 17. The presentation will begin following the junior varsity game, at approximately 7:00 p.m. As part of the honor, Gundlach will receive a two-year lease on a new Toyota Tundra Double Cab 5.7L V8 4x4, compliments of Toyota Motor Sales, Inc.
From a young age Keith Gundlach has been a focused individual, knowing exactly what his goals were and what he wanted to accomplish. When many kids his age were thinking about games of kickball and riding bikes, Keith was gathering inspiration and planning his future.
"I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was in the fifth grade," Gundlach said. "I came from a one-room country school with students from kindergarten through sixth grade. My teacher was a jack-of-all-trades, teaching all of us at the same time. I made up my mind then; I knew that's what I wanted to do."
For the past 34 years Gundlach has been fulfilling his fifth grade dream at Randolph High School, educating and inspiring students through a mix of structure and spontaneity. He embraces the value of hands on experiences and understands that good things can happen when you don't stick to the plan.
"I have boundaries, but it isn't too structured. If the students start asking questions or focusing on something that's interesting to them, I'll just let them go with it," Gundlach said. "I like incorporating hands on experiences because you see the product, both with increased intelligence and with increased ownership from the kids."
While Gundlach still draws his inspiration from a country schoolhouse he is now surrounded by advanced technology and resources at Randolph High School. The agricultural department routinely utilizes 26 laptops in the classroom, with an online textbook and multiple activities that incorporate technology and online learning.
"We are very fortunate and thankful for the resources that are available to our teachers and students," Thomas Erdmann, Randolph High School Principal, said. "The greenhouse, animal lab and land lab are also great teaching tools in the agricultural department. Students enjoy the interactive aspect, while the teachers and administration value the enthusiasm and applicable skills that are developed."
The greenhouse and land lab are two of the many reasons Gundlach is looking forward to accepting the keys to his new Toyota Tundra. With many trips to and from these locations, often carrying loads of equipment or materials across fields and uneven terrain, he knows the Tundra will be a valuable and commonly used asset.
"I was very surprised when I found out I had won. To be nominated and chosen by my peers and fellow teachers is really an honor," Gundlach said. "It's an exciting time. Now everyone will know it's me coming because they will recognize the truck."
Each year the NAAE receives applications of top educators from around the country and narrows it down to six, selecting one from each of its regions. Keith Gundlach was selected from Region 3, which includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Each Outstanding Agricultural Educational Teacher will receive a two-year lease on a new Toyota Tundra.
"We are proud to help recognize a great teacher and genuinely good guy like Keith Gundlach," Joe St. Marie, Sales Manager at Jon Lancaster Toyota, said. "We know that Keith will use the truck to continue reaching students and helping them achieve their goals both in agriculture and in their lives. We couldn't think of a better use for a Toyota Tundra, and Keith's dedication and hard work certainly deserves recognition."
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,450 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs over 35,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.toyota.com/, http://www.lexus.com/ and http://www.scion.com/.
The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) is the professional association for agricultural educators. Its mission is "professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service." The NAAE office is located on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Ky. For more information, visit www.naae.org.
The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members as part of 7,487 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a Federal Charter granted by the 81st United States Congress, and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more information visit www.ffa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and FFA Nation.
