Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education
Jeremy Watts
Student Teacher
Area of Emphasis: Mechanics
Fall 2024 Final Student Teaching Placement: Highland High School
Jeremy Watts, a 24-year-old from Bakersfield, California, has always been passionate about agriculture education. Inspired by his father, who was in the profession, and his grandfather, a math teacher, Jeremy benefited from their support throughout his school years. His grandfather, in particular, would help him with academic challenges in middle and high school, which cultivated his desire to assist others. In high school, Jeremy had the opportunity to help students in his father’s agriculture program, further sparking his interest in teaching. He also gained valuable experience through livestock Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE), working with swine, steers, goats, poultry, and wild game.
In 2024, Jeremy graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture teacher preparation. He began his teaching career at Mt. Whitney High School, where he taught Agriculture Mechanics 1 and 2 and co-taught Agriculture Mechanics 3, a fabrication course. Now, he is completing his final student teaching at Highland High School in Bakersfield, continuing to develop his expertise in agriculture mechanics.
FFA played a key role in Jeremy’s development as an educator, providing valuable experiences during high school. Earning his American FFA Degree gave him a unique understanding of SAE and FFA requirements, which he now applies in guiding his own students.
In addition to teaching, Jeremy enjoys working on motorcycles and cars. With deep family roots in agriculture—his relatives farm citrus and pomegranates—he is dedicated to creating opportunities for his students to succeed in agriculture mechanics and beyond.