Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the number of agriculture teachers employed in Georgia high school agricultural education programs and selected indicators of program success. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship between the number of agriculture teachers and first-place state-level competitive success in Career Development Events (CDEs), Leadership Development Events (LDEs), proficiency awards, Georgia State FFA Degrees earned, and student participation in state-level FFA leadership positions. A quantitative, correlational research design was utilized for this study. Data was collected from Georgia FFA records. Agricultural education programs within the state of Georgia served as the unit of analysis. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were used to evaluate relationships among variables. Findings indicated that programs employing a greater number of agriculture teachers generally experienced higher levels of student achievement and participation across multiple indicators of success. The findings of this study suggest that increased agricultural education staffing may positively influence student opportunities, leadership development, and overall program effectiveness. Implications for educational leaders, policymakers, and agricultural education stakeholders are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.

Year manuscript completed

2026

Year degree awarded

2026

Author's Keywords

school-based agriculture education, FFA, agriculture teachers, student success

Degree Awarded

Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Studies, Leadership and Counseling

College/School

College of Education & Human Services

Dissertation Committee Chair

Kristie B Guffey

Committee Member

Thomas Poole Jr.

Committee Member

Alyx M Shultz

Document Type

Dissertation

Additional Files
Taylor Ogle - Dissertation.docx (1879 kB)
Download

Share

COinS