Faculty Profiles

Research Goal: To better understand and measure the short, medium, and long-term effects of school-based agricultural education programs upon increasing agricultural literacy and preparing a workforce to meet cross-disciplinary needs of the 21st century.

A significant, continuing shortage of qualified candidates entering agricultural careers has persisted in the United States. The influence of school-based agricultural education (SBAE) on graduates’ decisions to enter these agricultural careers has been previously unknown. It has been argued that SBAE produces twin outcomes of producing citizens who are agriculturally literate and lifelong learners as well as preparing graduates ready to enter the skilled agricultural workforce (Roberts & Ball, 2009). While the roots of agricultural education were based in providing career training, students graduating from SBAE programs have not always pursued agriculture-related careers after high school. Given the shortage of qualified candidates prepared to enter the agriculture workforce, the influence of SBAE programs on the postsecondary career choices of program graduates has needed examination. The long-term effects of SBAE on program graduates’ agricultural literacy, as well as their occupational and educational choices have been unknown. Measurement of programmatic impacts would allow agricultural educators to make informed decisions regarding the effectiveness of program delivery, and program stakeholders to understand the short and long-term outcomes of student participation in SBAE.

I am interested in studying the career development of individuals who enter careers in agriculture through various means in an effort to encourage more individuals to pursue employment in this area.

Selected Publications

• LaRose, S. E. (2016). Teach Local: Incorporating the Local Food Movement into your Ag Ed Curriculum. Agricultural Education Magazine, 88(4), 22-23, 27.
• LaRose, S. E., Thoron, A. C., & Colclasure, B. C. (2016). Teaching students with disabilities: Traumatic brain injury. University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service Electronic Data Information Source, Publication AEC602. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc264
• Colclasure, B. C., Thoron, A. C., & LaRose, S. E. (2016). Teaching students with disabilities: Speech and language impairments. University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service Electronic Data Information Source, Publication AEC601. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc263
• LaRose, S. E., Thoron, A. C., & Colclasure, B. C. (2016). Teaching students with disabilities: Orthopedic impairment. University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service Electronic Data Information Source, Publication AEC600. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc262
• Colclasure, B. C., Thoron, A. C., & LaRose, S. E. (2016). Teaching students with disabilities: Intellectual disabilities. University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service Electronic Data Information Source, Publication AEC599. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc261
• LaRose, S. E., Thoron, A. C., & Colclasure, B. C. (2016). Teaching students with disabilities: Emotional disturbance and behavioral disorder. University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service Electronic Data Information Source, Publication AEC598. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc260
• Colclasure, B. C., Thoron, A. C., & LaRose, S. E. (2016). Teaching students with disabilities: Visual impairment and blindness. University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service Electronic Data Information Source, Publication AEC597. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc259
• Colclasure, B. C., Thoron, A. C., & LaRose, S. E. (2016). Teaching students with disabilities: Hearing impairments and deafness. University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service Electronic Data Information Source, Publication AEC596. Available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc258

• ASEC 44000 – Methods of Teaching Agricultural Education
• ASEC 31900 – Planning Agricultural Science and Business Programs
• ASEC 54000 – Program Development in Agricultural Education
• ASEC 29000 – Jamaica Study Abroad Preparation
• EDCI 20500 – Teaching as a Profession