TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS A COMPLEX ENDEAVOR, WHICH REQUIRES THE APPROPRIATE CONTEXT, MOTIVATION, INTEREST, EXPERIENCES, AND SUPPORT TO CREATE CHANGES IN TEACHING PRACTICES. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO ENSURE ALL OF THOSE ARE ADDRESSED IN A UNIQUE APPROACH TO TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL FOSTER INTERDEPARTMENTAL SECONDARY TEACHER COLLABORATION, AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN THE TIES BETWEEN SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL AND SCIENCE TEACHERS, AND THEIR TIES TO POST-SECONDARY STEM TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS.THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE SECONDARY TEACHERS' RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, SO THEY CAN INCORPORATE MORE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN RESEARCH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELS. THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BEGINS WITH 9 EXPLORATORY-VISITS TO THE UNIVERSITY FOCUSING ON THE EFFECTIVE RESEARCH METHODS, AND THE RESEARCH PROJECTS OF WVU DAVIS COLLEGE FACULTY. EACH VISIT WILL INCLUDE FOCUSED TIME ON HOW TO DESIGN AND CONDUCT RESEARCH, AND AN INTRODUCTORY RESEARCH EXPERIENCE TO 2-3 RESEARCH LABS IN THE DAVIS COLLEGE. THESE EXPLORATORY VISITS WILL INCLUDE EXPERIENCES AT EACH OF THE UNIQUE RESEARCH SITES THE WVU DAVIS COLLEGE FACULTY UTILIZE. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST YEAR, THE SECONDARY TEACHERS WILL APPLY TO BE A RESEARCH FELLOW WITH THE FACULTY MEMBER WHOSE RESEARCH IS OF MOST INTEREST TO THEM. THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE CONSISTS OF TIME FOR THE TEACHER TO BE EMBEDDED IN THE RESEARCH LAB OF THE FACULTY MEMBER, AS WELL AS DEVELOP CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES WHICH EMPHASIZE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ASPECTS OF THE RESEARCH CONTEXT AND INCORPORATE THE RESEARCH PROJECT INTO THEIR SECONDARY CLASSROOMS.