Abbotsford Traditional School Teacher Recognized by BCAITC for Bringing Agriculture Into the Classroom
Abbotsford Traditional School (ATS) teacher Dayle Thiessen was featured this school year by the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC) as part of its Teacher Champion series, which highlights educators who are passionate about agriculture and food education.
For Thiessen, the recognition reflects years of helping students make connections between classroom learning, local food systems and the community around them, including past participation in BCAITC’s Spuds in Tubs program. The program gives students the opportunity to grow potatoes from seed to harvest while learning more about where food comes from.
Thiessen first connected with BCAITC while completing a UBC Agriculture in the Classroom course during her master’s studies. Since then, she has continued using BCAITC resources and hands-on learning opportunities to help students explore food literacy, environmental awareness and agriculture in meaningful, accessible ways.
In Abbotsford, where urban and agricultural communities exist side by side, many ATS students already have personal connections to farming, gardening and local food through their families and community experiences. Thiessen says those connections help make learning more relevant and engaging for students.
While the Spuds in Tubs program is not taking place in her classroom this year, Thiessen has continued the learning through an herb garden project with students, encouraging curiosity, responsibility and a stronger understanding of the local environment.
Through hands-on, community-connected learning experiences, Thiessen creates engaging opportunities for students to build practical life skills, strengthen inquiry and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. Her work reflects the Abbotsford School District’s commitment to preparing students for a lifetime of success through meaningful learning experiences that support career and life readiness.
