Headshot of Troy White.
Lecturer
Ag Leadership Education & Communication

What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children (John Dewey)

Profile

About

Dr. White is an Out-State Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication (ALEC) stationed at the Panhandle Research, Extension, & Education Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff. His Ph.D. is in Education, focusing in Agricultural Education from the University of Idaho. Dr. White began his career in secondary agricultural education where he spent 10 years teaching at three high schools in Oregon and Idaho as a dual-certified agriculture and science teacher. This dual certification led to his interest in developing stronger connections between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) and Agricultural Education. Dr. White spent seven years teaching and conducting research in agricultural education teacher preparation at South Dakota State University prior to transitioning to the PREEC in Scottsbluff. For many years, Dr. White has worked with teachers and external funding sources to provide agriculturally based professional development and curricular resources for teachers.

Education

  • Ph.D., Education, University of Idaho, August 2015 Dissertation Title: Utilizing the Concerns-Based Adoption Model to Assess the Integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Secondary Introductory Agricultural Mechanics

Professional Responsibilities and Activities

  • Dr. White’s primary focus is in the area of teacher support including curriculum resource development, professional development workshops, and supporting new and alternatively certified teachers. He also works with FFA events at the National, State, and regional levels and has been a member of the Conduct of Chapter Meetings Leadership Development Event national committee for seven years.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:

White, P. T., Wolf, K., Johnson-Maynard, J.J. (2022). Changes in Teacher Attitudes Relating to Climate Science. Natural Sciences Education, 51(3), https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20086

Falk, J. M., Gerwig, C., Shaul, K., White, P. T., Baker, M. A. (2016). Perspectives on agricultural education at the University of Idaho. NACTA Journal, 60(2), 249-255https://www.jstor.org/stable/nactajournal.60.2.249

White, P.T., Wolf, K. J., Johnson-Maynard, J., Velez, J., & Eigenbrode, S. (2014). Secondary climate change education in the Pacific Northwest. Natural Sciences Education, 43(1)85-93https://doi.org/10.4195/nse2014.01.0001  

Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations & Proceedings:

Saucier, P.R., Byrd, A.P. White, P.T., & Anderson, R.G. (2021). Effects of a Professional Development Session on Career and Technical Education Teachers’ Perceptions of the Importance to Teach Small Gas Engines. Association of Career and Technical Education Research, New Orleans, LA.

Anderson, R.G., Saucier, P.R. Byrd, A.B., & White, P.T. (2021). Identifying the Tools and Equipment Available for Career and Technical Education Teachers to Teach Small Gas Engines Skills. Association of Career and Technical Education Research Conference, New Orleans, LA.

White, P.T., Anderson, R.G., Saucier, P.R., & Byrd, A.P. (2021). Perceptions of Curriculum Availability for Career and Technical Education Teachers to Teach Small Gas Engine Technology in Secondary Schools. Association of Career and Technical Education Research, New Orleans, LA. Best Paper Award- In-person sessions.

White, P. T., Nepal, M. P., Lemke, M., Browning, L. B., Miller, M. L., & Vestal, S. (2020). Perceptions and usages of online teaching resources by South Dakota science and agriculture teachers. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science, 99, 101-117.

Nepal, M.P., Browning, L.B., Miller, M.L. and White, P.T. (2020). Teaching Modules for 7-12 Science Educators. Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America, Virtual.

Nepal M.P., Bott-Knutson, R., Mathew, F., Janaswamy, R., & White, P.T. (2019). Mentoring Native American Students for Future Science and Agriculture Workforce through FAST-REEU. Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America, Tucson, AZ.

Nepal, M.P., Browning, L.B., Edwards, L., Miller, M.L., & White, P.T. (2018). Immersive Learning Experiences and Rural Networking at South Dakota State University (iLEARN@SDSTATE): A Professional Development Program for Science/Agriculture Teachers. Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America-Botany, Rochester MN.

Hasselquist, L., Graves, N, A., White, P.T. (December 2018). CTE Teacher Retention: A Qualitative Study of Mid-Career and Veteran CTE Teachers. CTE Research and Professional Development Conference, Association for Career and Technical Education Research, San Antonio, TX.

Nepal, M. P. (Lead), Browning, L. M., Miller, M. L., Edwards, L. M., White, P. T. (June 2018). Immersive Learning Experiences and Rural Networking at South Dakota State University (iLEARN@SDSTATE): A Professional Development Program for Science/Agriculture Teachers. Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America- Botany USDA, Rochester MN.

Vestal, S. S., Browning, L. M., Miller, M. L., Nepal, M., White, P. T. (July 2017). Using a Professional Learning Community to Retain STEM Teachers. 2017 Noyce Summit—AAAS, Washington, DC.

Vestal, S. S., Browning, L. M., Miller, M. L., Nepal, M., White, P. T. (July 2016). Factors that Influence Recruitment and Retention of STEM Teachers in Rural Areas. 2016 Noyce Summit—AAAS, Washington, DC.

White, P.T., Wolf, K. J. (2016). Utilizing the concerns-based adoption model to assess STEM integration in agricultural mechanics in Idaho. Proceedings of the American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference, Kansas City, MO43, 469-482. (54.5% acceptance rate)

White, P.T., Wolf, K. J., Falk, J. M. (2016). Introductory agricultural mechanics in Idaho: A census of the importance of instructional units and duration of instruction. Proceedings of the American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference, Kansas City, MO43, 592-608. (54.5% acceptance rate)

White, P.T., Wolf, K. J., Falk, J.M. (2015, October). Introductory agricultural mechanics in Idaho: A census of the importance of instructional units and duration of instruction. 34th National Agricultural Mechanics Professional Development Blue Ribbon Research Conference, Louisville, KY. Outstanding Research Paper Award. (60% acceptance rate)

White, P.T. & Wolf, K. (2014). Agricultural mechanics as agriscience: Secondary teacher perceptions in Idaho. Proceedings of the American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference, Salt Lake City, UT41, 3. (53% acceptance rate)

White, P.T., Connors, J., & Wolf, K. (2014, May). The development of agricultural education in the Pacific Northwest. Proceedings of the American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference, Salt Lake City, UT41, 48. (53% acceptance rate)

White, P.T., & Wolf, K. (2014). The effect of a three-day professional development on climate science on teacher attitudes towards teaching climate science in the classroom. Proceedings of the American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference, Salt Lake City, UT41, 4. (53% acceptance rate)

Falk, J., White, P.T., Gerwig, C., Shaul, K. (2014). Perspectives on agricultural education at the University of Idaho. Proceedings of the American Association for Agricultural Education National Research Conference, Salt Lake City, UT41, 2. (53% acceptance rate)

Falk, J., White, P.T., Gerwig, C., & Shaul, K. (2013, September). Perspectives on agricultural education at the University of Idaho. Paper presented at the Western Region Agricultural Education Research Conference, Lubbock, TX. 

Wolf, K., Velez, J., Johnson-Maynard, J., Eigenbrode, S., White, P. T., Swan, B. G., & Blickenstaff, S. M. (2013). Elementary teacher’s perceptions of agriculture and their integration of agricultural topics. Proceedings of the 40th Annual National Agricultural Education Research Conference, 40, 280-293. (43.5% acceptance rate)

White, P. T., & Pals, D. A. (2004). The current status of supervised agricultural experience programs (SAE) in the Inland Pacific Northwest. Proceeding of the 31st Annual National Agricultural Education Research Conference, 31, 103-115.

Publications: Extension

Wang, T., Bly, A., Mueller, J., White, P.T., & Kumar, S. (2019). Farm Practices that improve soil health: Integrated crop-livestock systems. SDSU iGROW Extension Publications. https://extension.sdstate.edu/farm-practices-improve-soil-health-integrated-crop-livestock-systems

Wang, T., Bly, A., Mueller, J., White, P.T., & Kumar, S. (2019). Farm practices that improve soil health: Crop rotations and no-till. SDSU iGROW Extension Publications. https://extension.sdstate.edu/farm-practices-improve-soil-health-crop-rotations-and-no-till

Wang, T., Bly, A., Mueller, J., White, P.T., & Kumar, S. (2019). Farm practices that improve soil health: Cover crops and crop residues. SDSU iGROW Extension Publications. https://extension.sdstate.edu/farm-practices-improve-soil-health-cover-crops-and-crop-residues

Publications: Other 

White, P. T., Lemke, M., Nepal, M.P. (2018, October). Analysis of Online Educational Resource Preferences of South Dakota Agricultural and Science Educators. Round Table Paper presented at the North-Central Region Research Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education, Fargo, ND. 

Nepal, M., Andersen, E., Browning, L., Edwards, L., Miller, M., White, P.T. (July 2018),Immersive Learning Experiences and Rural Networking at South Dakota State University (iLEARN@SDSTATE): A Professional Development Program for Science/Agriculture Teachers. Abstract/Oral Paper Presented at the 2018 Conference of the Botanical Society of America, Rochester, MN.

White, P.T., & Maynard, J. (2013, Winter). REACCH update: Looking to the future. Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Newsletter. http://directseed.org/files/5013/6880/ 6054/2013_Winter_DSLink.pdf  

White, P.T., & Wolf, K. (2013, May). Teachers in the Inland Pacific Northwest and climate change. The outREACCH Newsletter.

White, P.T. (2013, August). Tools for teaching climate related secondary science. The outREACCH Newsletter.

Presentations

Refereed Poster Presentations: 

White, P.T., Anderson, R.G., Saucier, P.R., Byrd, A.P. (2021). Perceptions of Curriculum Availability for Career and Technical Education Teachers to Teach Small Gas Engine Technology in Secondary Schools [Poster presentation]North-Central American Association for Agricultural Education Research Conference, Columbus, OH.

Byrd, A.P, White, P.T., Anderson, R.G., Saucier, P.R. (2020). Effects of a Professional Development Session on Career and Technical Education Teachers' Knowledge to Teach Small Gas Engines [Poster presentation]. National Agricultural Mechanics Professional Development Blue Ribbon Research Conference. Outstanding Research Poster.

Byrd, A.P, White, P.T., Anderson, R.G., Saucier, P.R. (2020). Effects of a Professional Development Session on Career and Technical Education Teachers' Knowledge to Teach Small Gas Engines [Poster presentation]National Agricultural Mechanics Professional Development Blue Ribbon Research Conference. Outstanding Research Poster.

Nepal, M.P., Bott-Knutson, R.C., Mathew, F., Janaswamy, S. and White, P.T. (2020). Enhancing College Experience of Native American Students [Poster Presentation]. Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America. July 27-31, Virtual

Saucier, P.R., Byrd, A.P. White, P.T., Anderson, R.G., & Leamon, C. (2020). Identifying the Tools and Equipment Available for Career and Technical Education Teachers to Teach Small Gas Engines Skills [Poster presentation]. National Agricultural Mechanics Professional Development Blue Ribbon Research Conference, Virtual.

Leamon, C. L., Saucier, P. R., Anderson, R., Byrd, A. P., & White, P. T. (2020). An evaluation of the Briggs and Stratton small gas engine technology workshop: A national focus on the professional development needs of career and technology teachers. Research Poster presented at the National Research Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education, Virtual.

White, P. T., Carter, A., Hasselquist, L., & Nepal, M.P. (2019, May). Application of Cognitive Load Theory to Interactive Notebook Design. Innovative Idea Poster presented at the National Research Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education, DesMoines, IA.

White, P.T., Elliott, K., Wolf, K., Velez, J., & Johnson-Maynard, J. (2012, October). Communicating Current Climate Research through High School Science Curriculum. Poster Presented at the Pacific Northwest Climate Science Conference, Boise, ID.

Foreman, E.A., Smalley, S.W., Retallick, M.S., White, P.T. (2015, Oct.). Factors that Influence New Students’ Decision to Attend Two Midwestern Land-Grant Universities. Poster Presented at the North Central American Association for Agricultural Educators Research Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

 

Invited Poster Presentations: 

White, P.T., Wolf, K., Johnson-Maynard, J., Velez, J., & Eigenbrode, S. (2014). Climate Change Education in Pacific Northwest Classrooms: Making it Real. Poster presented at the REACCH Annual Meeting, March 4-8, 2014, Richland, WA.

White, P.T., Wolf, K., Johnson-Maynard, J., Velez, J., & Eigenbrode, S. (2014). Climate Change Education in Pacific Northwest Classrooms: Making it Real. Poster presented at the NIFA Project Directors Annual Meeting, January 6-10, 2014, Gainesville, FL.

White, P.T., Wolf, K., Johnson-Maynard, J., Velez, J., & Eigenbrode, S. (2013). Secondary Climate Change Education in the Pacific Northwest. Poster presented at the REACCH Annual Meeting, February 13-15, 2013, Portland, OR.

White, P.T., Elliott, K., Wolf, K., Velez, J., & Johnson-Maynard, J. (2013). Communicating Current Climate Research through High School Science Curriculum. Poster presented at the REACCH Annual Meeting, February 13-15, 2013, Portland, OR.

White, P.T. (2013). Perceptions of Climate Change in Secondary Education in the Pacific Northwest. Poster presented at the REACCH Annual Meeting, February 13-15, 2013, Portland, OR.

Awards and Honors

South Dakota Honorary State FFA Degree (2020)

Idaho Honorary State FFA Degree (2014)

University of Idaho College of Agricultural & Life Sciences Alumni Achievement Award (2011)