THIS AFRI PD-STEP APPLICATION IS AN INTEGRATED TEACHING-RESEARCH-EXTENSION PROJECT LEVERAGING MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY, GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES, AND GEOGRAPHIC PEDAGOGIES BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS. INDEPENDENTLY, THE AGRICULTURAL FIELDS OF ENTOMOLOGY AND GEOSPATIAL SCIENCES ARE UNDERSTAFFED. WHEN COMBINED, THE RESULT IS DECREASED SURVEILLANCE AND INCREASED RESPONSE TIMES FOR PATHOGEN DETECTION, WHICH PUTS HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY AT RISK. TO INCREASE THIS WORKFORCE, WE PROPOSE TO CREATE A YEARLONG ACADEMY FOR 45 SECONDARY STEAM EDUCATORS (15 EDUCATORS/YEAR WITH 6 FACILITATORS), ENGAGING THEM IN MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY AND GEOSPATIAL ANALYSES FOR CLASSROOM IMPLEMENTATION WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM WITH TAILORED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. THIS PROJECT'S RELEVANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR FOCUS ON LA CROSSE ENCEPHALITIS, THE LEADING PEDIATRIC ARBOVIRUS TRANSMITTED BY MOSQUITOES IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. THE YEARLONG ACADEMY INCLUDES THREE IN-SERVICE WORKSHOPS, CLASSROOM SUPPORT FOR EDUCATOR/STUDENT INQUIRY-DRIVEN SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS, AND STUDENT-DEVELOPED EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. EXPECTED OUTPUTS INCLUDE INNOVATIVE IN-SERVICE WORKSHOPS, ENTOMOLOGY AND GEOSPATIAL CURRICULUM, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM WITH EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR THE PUBLIC. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE EDUCATOR, STUDENT, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, INTEGRATION OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE CONCEPTS INTO THEIR CLASSES, ENHANCED AWARENESS OF AGRICULTURAL AND GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE CAREER PATHS, AND FORGED MENTORSHIPS WITH FACULTY, INDUSTRY, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS. PROJECT GOALS ALIGN WITH THE AFRI FARM BILL PRIORITY AREA FOCUS ON FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH AND WITH ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION.