Cindy Watson, a middle school teacher at Forest Middle School in Bedford County, has been named the Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom 2026 Teacher of the Year.
The award recognizes a Virginia educator for incorporating agriculture into their core curriculum.
Watson uses agriculture as a foundation for hands-on STEM learning in her exploratory science and robotics design classes. Through science, robotics and technology-based lessons, she helps students understand how agriculture impacts their daily lives while challenging common misconceptions about modern farming.
“Cindy’s application of agriculture in her curriculum enhances her students’ agricultural literacy and sparks curiosity,” said Lynn Black, Virginia AITC director of education. “By connecting farming with STEM concepts, she’s helping students become more informed and responsible adults who understand where their food comes from, and the vital role agriculture plays in our world.”
In her classroom, students have participated in science challenges like NASA’s Plant the Moon, Growing Beyond Earth, and Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant projects. Through these lessons, students explored agricultural principles like plant genetics, soil science, hydroponics and nutrient cycling while collecting and analyzing data on plant growth and health.
Watson also integrates robotics, drone navigation and modeling to examine pollination and ecosystems that are critical to food production; the effect of natural disasters; and complex agricultural supply chains. Her robotics coursework introduces students to precision agriculture and demonstrates how farmers use drones and GPS to manage their crops and improve efficiency.
Additionally, her lessons showcase how agriculture and STEM concepts overlap in career fields, such as coding for autonomous harvesters, using biotechnology to develop drought-resistant crops, or operating vertical farms. Overall, her approach underscores the critical role science and technology play in modern agriculture, and how innovation helps feed a growing global population in a complex modern food system.
Through these experiences, “students can figure out at a younger age whether this is something they’d want to pursue as a career,” said Watson, who grew up on a farm outside of Chicago. “I like to give my students opportunities they might not get somewhere else. This is my passion, and I’m fortunate to have a community that supports these programs.”
As Virginia AITC Teacher of the Year, Watson will receive a scholarship to the 2026 National AITC Conference in June in Providence, Rhode Island, and a $500 cash award.
For more information on the Teacher of the Year recognition, visit virginia.agclassroom.org.
The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of agriculture through education and outreach activities. To learn more and support, visit virginia.agclassroom.org.
Contact Black at 804-350-3596.
