Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Johnson Elizabeth Johnson works with one of her students in the welding shop inside Tracy High School.

Every day that Elizabeth Johnson walks into the Tracy Junior and High School building is an “awesome” day.

“I love teaching,” Johnson said after just finishing subbing for another teacher. “I enjoy subbing. I get to see what all the other teachers are doing.”

It doesn’t matter what kind of class it is, because Johnson excels in teaching a variety of subjects in the agriculture department. From growing plants to welding, Johnson teaches skills needed in professions or for practical life situations.

“Finding ways that impact them (students) is one of the things I really focus on. So whatever I teach that day, I always make sure that it really applies to them at some point. So how does this apply to you? Why is this important? We talk about that in every one of my classes every single day.”

“Horticulture, for example. Kids may have a garden at their house. They have house plants, or different shrubs. So that class, they’re able to really learn about plant science and how to have a successful garden for the rest of their life. Even during COVID, there’s more people having a garden than typically having a garden. I try to help kids be successful further in life.”

It takes certain skills to be successful in life. Some skills are needed more than others in communities, such as Tracy. She mentioned plumbing as one example. She knows of one plumber in Tracy and some day that plumber is going to retire.

“We’re going to need to bring people back into the community to do those jobs,” she said.

Welding is another one of those skills needed in many different industries. That is why she took the time last year to apply for several grants to revamp a new welding shop. She ended up getting $43,000 for to complete that revamping.

“I do it for the kids, so the kids are able to have things that relate to industry standards. So if I can spend a day or two of my life to get $43,000 for the school to be successful in the future, that’s what important to me,” Johnson said. “All the school budgets are tight, so you have to go out and find the grants or go out and talk to the community members. Whatever I do, I always have the students in mind so that they’re able to be more successful.”

Johnson said she also tries to connect with the community to keep her teaching and supplies relevant to students.

“I really focus on building a lot of relationships within the community. Like having a relationships with the local welding shop or just making sure you are gong to local businesses,” she said.

“In Ag, we continue to add more classes, whatever related more to the industry. Like this year, CAD (computer-aided design), 3D printing. CAD software is highly used for engineers or construction workers. So if they’re in like in the metal fabrication, or any sort of fabrication jobs, they are have to know how to use the AutoCAD (commercial computer-aided design) system. So I have a class that just toward that to get them ready for any careers in the future where they will have to use AutoCAD,” Johnson said.

As a ag teacher and FFA advisor, Johnson also know those different technologies also relate to the agriculture industry as well, according to Johnson. Of course agriculture is a major industry in southwest Minnesota.

“We all got to eat,” She said. “Agriculture continues to be very important and the technology within agriculture is severely advanced. So there’s gonna be some jobs that kind of relate to technology, software — so that’s all kind of important. So agriculture continues to have a huge impact on people’s lives. I always really try to encourage students to go into an agriculture related field because there will always be a job.”

This is Johnson’s sixth year teaching, three of those years in Tracy High School. She teaches seventh-grade agriculture/manufacturing where they make things like a toolbox and talk about FFA. Also eighth grade, which is more of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-based class. The students work on such projects as wood engraved signs, mousetrap cars.

“Just because the industry is really going into science, engineering, technology. Those sort of jobs,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she believes in putting students first and setting them up for success.

“They are tomorrow’s leaders,” she said. “If they want to put in some extra time, then I’m willing to come in early before school, after school. Sometimes they just need someone to stand there. Make sure someone is there supporting them, cheering them on. Pushing them, instead of making it so easy. I make it so my classes are rigorous and making sure they can apply it to the future,” she said.

And that is why Johnson said she loves teaching.

“I really enjoy coming to school every single day. There’s never been a day when working in Tracy and I said, ‘ahhh, I have to go to work today?’ I’m just so excited that I get to come to school every day. All these awesome students.”