The program has assisted several schools throughout the state which were setting up veterinary assistant programs, or other veterinary science programs.  Representatives from New Horizons, Hermitage Technical Center, and Rowanty Technical Center have visited the Pruden Center to discuss program development.  The instructor has maintained email correspondence with several instructors throughout the state, including Blacksburg High School, New Horizons, and Hermitage Technical Center, offering advice when requested and discussing new ideas.  Attached is a list of recommended equipment and reference material given to a neighboring school system during their planning stages.

In 2007, the instructor and the student ambassadors gave a presentation at the High Five: Celebrating Best Partnership Practices in Career and Technical Education in order to share our philosophy that students might benefit more from hearing from other students about careers and programs available to them.

The instructor has participated in many career day presentations at area elementary schools including Kilby Shores Elementary in 2013 and 2012, Southwestern Elementary in 2010, Mount Zion Elementary in 2007, and Booker T. Washington Elementary in 2007 and 2004.

The student ambassadors routinely visit area elementary and middle schools to give presentations about their respective programs.  They have participated in numerous career day displays since the programs inception.  In November 2013, the veterinary assistant program ambassador spoke with third and fourth graders at Hill Point Elementary School in Suffolk, VA.  In 2012 they visited Southwestern Elementary, Elephants Fork Elementary, and Forest Glen Middle School.  Every year, the student ambassadors also serve as hosts to groups of ninth and tenth graders from all feeder schools.  Visiting students tour the classroom and receive a brief presentation about the veterinary assistant program. This year, over 500 students visited the programs offered at The Pruden Center. 

Artifacts Attached:

1. Letter from Kilby Shores Career Day
2. Photographs from 2004 Career day at Booker T. Washington Elementary
3. Thank you note written to one of our ambassadors

The Veterinary Assistant Program utilizes baseline assessment data to gain insight into each students' individual abilities and experiences. Along with this information, the program emphasizes differentiated instruction and project-based learning to help all students succeed by tapping into natural talents and learning styles.  Information gained from student surveys helps the instructor see which methodologies provided students the most and least benefit. 

Each term has a project which allows the student to create a compilation of information and material learned during the term, and see the applicability of that knowledge.  Strong partnerships with members of the veterinary community and local farmers have allowed students to put into action the ideas learned in class.  Reading about administering medication to a cow helps the student understand the process.  Actually being able to administer the medication, with environmental factors and animal behavior coming into play, drives the lesson home.  Despite the program's inability to house large numbers of animals at the center, the students have been able to experience a wide range of species thanks to wonderful guest speakers, field trips, and job shadowing opportunities. 

Students are encouraged to share experiences and peer-to-peer teach.  The video productions created by students and included as artifacts exemplify some of the best practices of the program.  Traditional assessments continue to have an important place in monitoring student growth and understanding, but watching a student perform and teach a task on par with people working in industry is wonderful.  Project based learning allows the student to decide, within certain guidelines, how best to present information about their subject to the class and instructor.  This fosters creativity and student ownership of the process. 

Technology is an important part of the Veterinary Assistant Program due to the rapidly changing nature of the veterinary field.  Access to student computers, tablets, and internet allows students to further explore a topic or move onto a different assignment if they finish work more quickly than classmates.  SmartBoard technology allows lecture material to be presented in a more interesting way by incorporating video clips, pictures, hyperlinks to relevant sites.  Students are able to move around the room and participate in interactive review games.

The instructor routinely advises parents about classroom activities and related community activities, with many parents participating in farm visits with their child, or offering to chaperone field trips.  The practice of emailing parents and attaching PowerPoints and internet sites has had a positive impact on student growth.  Several parents have become more involved with homework and helping their student review for assessments.

The program stays abreast of new developments in industry thanks to frequent contact with advisory board members and regular participation by the instructor in continuing education conferences.  The instructor has been an active participant in curriculum review and development by the Virginia Department of Education.  Area hospitals hire graduates of the Veterinary Assistant Program year after year; a testament to the caliber of our students.