Dieckhoff Named Regional Teacher of the Year

Harrisonville Schools 2024 Educator of the Year Jason Dieckhoff has been named a Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year. Dieckhoff is one of six regional finalists in the Kansas City region.

Dieckhoff was named the district’s Educator of the Year in April which qualified him to submit an application for the Missouri Teacher of the Year Program.  He is an agriculture teacher at Cass Career Center and has worked in the district for 21 years. Dieckhoff holds a bachelor’s degree in Ag Economics and Ag Education and a master’s in Ag Education from the University of Missouri. He was named a Golden Owl finalist as an Outstanding Agriculture Instructor in Missouri which put him in the top 7 in the state and top 39 in the nation this year. He received the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Region IV & National Teacher Mentor Award in 2021. He holds an Honorary American FFA Degree and received the Harrisonville Chamber’s Educator of the Year Award and Frank Graham Outstanding Missouri 4-H Leader Award.

“For me, the best part of teaching is seeing students accomplish tasks they have not done before, especially when they are hesitant to try it in the first place.  I love being part of the students’ experiences that grow their knowledge, skills, and especially their self-confidence,” Dieckhoff said, “ I am blessed to work with students in a variety of settings: classroom, shop, greenhouse, and outside.  No matter what the content area, using a variety of settings to help students gain skills which will be essential for their future, is a very cool experience.  It is as motivating for me, as I hope it is for the students.”

Dieckhoff became a teacher because of his own experience growing up in 4-H and FFA. “It is through my experiences in 4-H and FFA which made me realize how special it would be to teach high school students and be involved in the local community I am teaching in.”

He added, “I feel more motivated to teach today than I did 21 years ago, when my teaching career started.  I am able to see directly how the knowledge and skills I have taught former students are impacting their lives, our community, and the agriculture industry.  I can now see from a bigger picture, what I am teaching that really made a difference and what I have been teaching which has not been as effective.  I have found the interpersonal and leadership skills have had a more lasting impact on students than many of the technical skills.”

Dieckhoff also emphasizes the importance of community and giving back. CCC ag students work on many service projects throughout the year including helping with set up for the Log Cabin Festival, planting flowers at Marler-Wirt-Allen Park and City Park, and maintenance at North Park Activity Center.

“As students leave our program, we hope our students carry with them a strong sense of community.  We hope we are teaching students the skills they need to be productive members of our local community, whether that be immediately, or after further education.  Doing service projects in our community, I hope, have helped instill a sense of the importance of community and respecting where one has come from.  Students need to understand the investment the community has made in their education, appreciate it, and feel the desire to give back to the community as they continue to grow up.”

He was honored at the Regional Teacher of the Year Luncheon in mid-July where he received a cash award and a plaque. He is also eligible to apply for the Missouri Teacher of the Year program. All regional finalists will be recognized at the Missouri Teacher of the Year banquet in October.