The John de la Howe - School for Agriculture is excited to announce the hiring of three agricultural education teachers:

Mr. Hunter Morton is a native of Seneca, South Carolina. Morton is currently completing his Master’s in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology at Clemson University. He received his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Education from Clemson University and is a graduate of Pendleton High School in Anderson, SC. Morton has served as a Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Officer for the State of South Carolina, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and received his FFA American degree. This will be his first full year of teaching with past student teaching experience at Blue Ridge High School in Greer, SC. Morton is married to newlywed wife, Hope. “This year I am excited about taking the traditional classroom setting and putting a twist on learning. I am looking forward to using a lot of hands-on approaches to learning and providing unique experiences to the students of John de la Howe,” said Morton.

Mrs. Libby Templeton is a native of Saluda, South Carolina. Templeton earned a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Education from Clemson University. Templeton has been an Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor at Batesburg-Leesville High School, in Batesburg-Leesville, SC for 16 years. Among other accomplishments, she has been the SC State Fair Beef Scholarship Coordinator for 16 years and the SC Miss FFA Pageant Director for 11 years. Templeton is married to Wayne Templeton Jr. and has a 6-year-old daughter, Tori. “I am most excited to take this opportunity to do what I love and share my passion with students who share the same interests in agriculture. I want my students to fall in love with the program and make history at John de la Howe while promoting leadership and career success,” said Templeton.

Mr. Russ Abrams is a native of Silver Creek, Georgia. Abrams earned an Associate of Science in Agriculture at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA; a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education at Clemson University in Clemson, SC; and a Master of Agricultural Education at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Abrams began his teaching career at Stony Point High School in Round Rock, Texas for nine years. He has spent the last three years teaching Agricultural Science, Wildlife, and Agricultural Mechanics at Woodmont High School in Piedmont, SC. During his career, he has coached numerous state-qualifying and area-winning Career Development Events teams and coached the state-winning Tractor Driving Team in 2019. He is married to Jenna Abrams and has two children, Collins Grace, 4, and Ford, 2. “For the upcoming school year, I am most excited about being able to do hands-on learning in every class, every day! Also being able to teach the best of the best from all around the state,” said Abrams.

These teachers will officially come on board this July. The School for Agriculture is set to open August 2020, welcoming 10th and 11th-grade students. The John de la Howe School provides a program that enhances students’ knowledge and experience in the field of agriculture and meets the requirements for a high school diploma in South Carolina. Students will have the opportunity to choose from the following majors: Environmental & Natural Resources Management, Horticulture, and Plant and Animal Systems.