Heather Reitenga, a Digital Integration Specialist in Lexington-Richland School District Five, has been chosen as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Betty J. DeWitt Outstanding Educator Award from the South Carolina Farm Bureau. The accolade is in recognition of Reitenga’s exceptional efforts in integrating agricultural education programs into the school curriculum.
Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Reitenga stated, “Being recognized by the South Carolina Farm Bureau for Agriculture in the Classroom is very meaningful to me. I am grateful to be able to provide hands-on learning experiences for our elementary students to have a deeper understanding of the importance of agriculture, sustainability, and nutrition.”
Reitenga emphasized the significance of the Ag in the Classroom program, which facilitates the seamless connection of gardening and agricultural practices with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning. “Learning to grow our own foods is so good for our students’ physical and mental health and gives them a chance to not only learn about gardening but to also develop a wide range of skills applicable to various aspects of everyday life and future careers.”
The Betty J. DeWitt Outstanding Educator Award, named in honor of Betty J. DeWitt’s commitment to agricultural literacy, recognizes K-12 teachers who integrate exemplary agricultural education into their daily classroom lessons.
“Heather’s Leaphart family is so proud of her,” remarked Leaphart Elementary School Principal Courtney Sims. “We are grateful for all she’s done to teach us about being good stewards of the environment. From her leadership with the Green Step program, to the installation of our garden beds…and everything in between, Heather has brought so many unique learning opportunities to our students and staff.”
Reitenga was presented with the award during the SC Farm Bureau Annual Convention’s Award and Recognition Program on December 1 in Myrtle Beach. The honor reflects not only her dedication to environmental education but also her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of agriculture among students.
