Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Scott Branson lends decades of experience to program development
Vo-Ag teacher and FFA Advisor Scott Branson checks out the newly planted tomato seeds in his classroom. The seedlings will move to a greenhouse that will be erected during spring break. In addition to growing plants, students will learn to market and sell their produce as part of the new ag-economics program.
Student posters adorn cabinets in Prescott's new CTE building classrooms.
PRESCOTT – For the first time in over 40 years, Prescott High School is offering agricultural-focused career and technical education (CTE) courses. Dual credit agreements with Walla Walla Community College and a new FFA charter have created even more opportunities for students.
Superintendent Brett Cox said his certification as a District Vocational Director played a big role in the district's decision to hire him two years ago. The board wanted to expand elective offerings and start a vocational program, he said. This year, those goals became a reality.
Over the summer last year, a large storage building next to the school's bus barn was cleaned and converted to classroom space and a 14-bay computer lab for the new CTE program. Teacher Scott Branson, with decades of agriculture education experience, was hired to get the program off the ground.
Branson graduated from WSU with a double-major in agriculture education. He accepted his first teaching position at Waitsburg High School where he taught vocational agriculture, applied math and junior high science for 31 years.
Following his 2005 'retirement' Branson taught at Jubilee Leadership Academy for two years and Dayton High School for three years before taking a position as site director for the WSU GEAR UP program in Prescott.
When there was a shortage of applicants to teach Prescott's new CTE classes, Branson was willing to put his many years of experience to work developing the program. He currently teaches CASE Plant Science, Ag Communications/Leadership, Ag Business/Technology, Applied Algebra 1, and 8th grade Ag Exploration Science.
The district partnered with WWCC to establish a dual credit agreement for two of the classes. Students taking the Ag Business and/or Plant Science classes, who earn a B grade or better, can receive five college credits for each class.
Branson said the big undertaking this year will be a greenhouse project. Students recently planted tomato seeds, which will be transferred to the district's new greenhouse. In addition to caring for the plants, students will decide how to market and sell the produce later this spring.
Branson said he has faced many challenges, but has also received a lot of support. He said he has relied on local ag teachers for help in developing frameworks for CTE classes and ideas for the greenhouse program.
Branson lives in the Tri-Cities and leaves home at 5 a.m. and gets back home at about 5 p.m. "It takes a lot of time and planning to get a new program off the ground," he said.
In addition to developing the new CTE program, Branson has been working to organize an FFA chapter. Prescott received its official FFA charter in November. He said his initial goals will focus on attending Career Development Events (CDE), which allow members to compete and test their leadership and education skills.
If all goes as planned, there will be even more opportunities next year. The district has applied for a CTE grant that they hope will supply funds to purchase welding stations, a plasma cutter, a drill press, and other equipment for use in metal fabrication classes. One side of the building is ready and waiting just for that purpose and Branson has the teaching experience.
Branson says the whole experience has been very positive. "A lot of things are coming on as I hoped they would, there are just not enough hours in the day," he said.
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