Jefferson Middle School’s CTE Agriculture program has taken on a big adventure this school year with the help of a new CTE instructor, Heather Brown. Mrs. Brown graduated from the University of Tennessee and was hired at Jefferson Middle for the 25-26 school year where she has made quite a splash in the CTE department. With the help of Perkins federal funding, her Agriscience class students, and her expertise, they have successfully raised Americana and Orpington chickens from eggs. Paisyn Turner said, “Having the chickens has taught me responsibility and how to care for a living thing.” 

Learning about the life cycle of chickens has been an adventure for all of Mrs. Brown’s students. Seeing the eggs incubate, candling to check embryo development, and then watching the chicks emerge from their shells has given the students and staff a new appreciation of life. A newly erected chicken coop sits by the green house on JMS’ campus currently housing the larger Americana chickens. Her student, Parker Dean, said “The chickens give us a real-life presentation about how life and growth happens. Having to feed the chickens helped us learn about animal nutrition.”  

Such a new endeavor wouldn’t be possible without the support of the CTE Supervisor, Missy Hayes, and the director of Jefferson County Schools, Dr. Tommy Arnold. Mrs. Brown is very proud of the project’s impact thus far.