Ag instructor named Teacher of the Year

The Montana Association for Career and Technical Education has selected Kalispell Public Schools vocational agriculture teacher Justin Heupel as the 2013 Teacher of the Year.  

The award was presented during the organization’s fall conference in Bozeman Oct. 18.   

The Teacher of the Year award recognizes career and technical educators who have made significant contributions toward improvement, promotion, research or development of career and technical education programs.

Heupel will be considered for the Teacher of the Year award for Region 5, which includes 16 states.

Heupel is in his 10th year teaching agricultural education to Flathead and Glacier high school students at the H.E. Robinson Agricultural Education Center.

Additionally, he advises the FFA chapter, which represents more than 10 percent of Montana’s FFA membership. He also has coached several Career Development Event state championship teams.  

Heupel served in Montana Association of Agriculture Educators leadership for six years and was on the board for four years. He now serves as legislative co-chair for the association.

In August, Heupel was the Montana recipient of the National Association of Agricultural Educators’ Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher award for his leadership in the classroom and community.