Teacher Spotlight: How Mrs. Abbe & Mrs. Dwyer Are Growing Agriculture at TVAH

At Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville (TVAH), we are proud to recognize educators who go above and beyond to create meaningful, real-world experiences for students. This month, we’re spotlighting Mrs. Gynnalyn Abbe, an Agriculture instructor in Texas Career and College Prep (Texas C&CP), and Mrs. Lauren Dwyer, an Agriculture Science teacher who is helping launch exciting new agriculture opportunities for students across our Texas K12 schools.

As TVAH’s Ag program continues to grow, Mrs. Abbe and Mrs. Dwyer have taken the lead in opening doors for students to explore agriculture education, leadership, and hands-on learning experiences, giving students real pathways to future careers and community involvement.

Ag Awareness Day at the State Fair of Texas

One of the biggest highlights recently was Ag Awareness Day at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, where students proudly represented their schools as part of a statewide celebration of agriculture education.

During the event, five Texas Career and College Prep agriculture students, their families, and two advisors attended Ag Awareness Day alongside hundreds of young agricultural advocates from across Texas.

As part of the day’s activities, students collected and donated 1,010 pounds of canned food to the North Texas Food Bank, showing the powerful connection between agriculture, community service, and giving back.

Representing TVAH and Texas C&CP Across the State

We are proud to recognize the students who represented our programs during this event, including:

• Gisella De La Mora – represented Texas Online Prepatory School (Houston area)
• Addison Sharum – represented Digital Academy of Texas (Houston area)
• Jessie Gates – represented Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville (Houston)
• Jazmin Garcia – represented Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville (Odessa)
• Alexis Zavala – represented Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville (Fort Worth)

This is a strong example of how our virtual model brings students together across the state by uniting them around shared interests, career goals, and leadership development opportunities.

Growing Ag Pathways for Students

Through the Texas C&CP Agriculture program, students are gaining access to learning opportunities that combine:

• Agriculture education and career exploration
• Leadership development and teamwork
• Service learning and community engagement
• Events that connect classroom learning to real-world experiences

Through the dedication of both Mrs. Abbe and Mrs. Dwyer, students are gaining confidence while exploring fields like animal science, agriculture technology, food systems, and more.

More Opportunities Ahead

Ag Awareness Day is just one piece of the growing Agriculture momentum happening within Texas C&CP. The program continues to expand student opportunities, with highlights in this issue including:

• EF Tours with Mrs. Abbe
• Ag Awareness Day
• Vet Med Virtual Contest
• Food Prize Youth Institute

We’re excited to see what students accomplish next as the agriculture program continues to launch and expand.

Thank You, Mrs. Abbe and Mrs. Dwyer

TVAH is grateful for educators like Mrs. Gynnalyn Abbe and Mrs. Lauren Dwyer, who are creating engaging experiences for students and building pathways that inspire them beyond the classroom.

To learn more about Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville’s Career and College Prep (C&CP) opportunities, visit: tvah.k12.com/academics/career-college-prep/

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