Kasey Mang had been a substitute teacher with PTECH for several years when she was encouraged to apply for a vacant Teacher Aide position. After submitting her application, she was hired, and by her second year in her new role she was fully dedicated to supporting upper-level PTECH students enrolled in the agricultural pathway at its SUNY Cobleskill location.
Kasey Mang went from being a building substitute to a classroom teacher at PTECH.
Soon after, she would transition into the role of agriculture teacher. Today, she is in her fourth year at PTECH teaching a trio of 10th grade agriculture electives.
Mang also enjoys the opportunity to co-teach the Pathway Exploration/CIS 105 class, which helps all incoming 9th graders explore the pathways offered at PTECH while learning computer application basics.
On top of her classroom duties, she is the advisor of the PTECH chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), a national organization focused on agriculture and leadership, and she oversees a small, informal gardening club where students can engage with grow towers and garden beds, encouraging hands-on learning and fostering a love for growing and nurturing plants.
Mang says her journey to PTECH was unexpected, but meaningful. After her career in the equine industry didn’t unfold as she had hoped, she explored new paths and began substitute teaching. She quickly found herself drawn to the program.
“Having grown up on a dairy farm and studying horses in college, I was excited to see a program dedicated to agricultural education.”
It was this experience that sparked her interest in pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural education. She’s been committed to the program ever since.
One of her favorite classroom projects to lead is ‘Animals Inside Out’. According to Mang, the project offers students a creative, hands-on way to explore the anatomy and physiology of different animals.
Last year, students researched various body systems, from the nervous and circulatory, to the skeletal and muscular systems. They then illustrated each system on clear cellophane sheets, layering them to create a flipbook showing the animal from the inside out.
Mang says the results were incredible, and the project was a huge hit among students.
“It encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity while deepening their understanding of animal science,” she stated.
Mang says she appreciates the freedom that PTECH offers both the students and staff.
“Teachers are trusted to develop their own curriculum, allowing us to adapt our teaching methods to best meet the needs of our students. Students also have unique opportunities to earn freedoms and privileges not commonly available in traditional high schools, which helps them grow into self-directed, motivated learners.”
Her most meaningful experiences at PTECH come when she sees a student discover their passion and fully embrace it.
“Witnessing that ‘lightbulb moment’ when a student connects deeply with a subject, hobby, or activity is incredibly rewarding. Those moments remind me why I decided to take this path,” said Mang. “The program’s values and its capacity to empower students have kept me here. I have found countless opportunities to grow, learn, and make an impact.”
