FUNDING OF THE NIU EDIBLE CAMPUS IMMERSION TEACHER EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT (EXCITED)-WILL PROVIDE ILLINOIS TEACHERS OFYOUTH WITH ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY FOOD SYSTEMS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION TO INCLUDE FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION, FOOD SYSTEMS, SPECIALTY FOOD CROPS, FOOD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STUDENTS INCLUDED IN THE EDUCATOR INSTITUTE WILL EXPERIENCE TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING, GAINING A NEW APPRECIATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SCIENCES IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS ALIKE WILL GAIN EMPOWERMENT TO GUIDE OUR NEXT GENERATION WORKFORCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS.THIS PDAL PROGRAM COVERS THE AFRI PRIORITY AREAS OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF K-14 EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS, WIDESPREAD IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION AND AFTER BEING PRESENTED WITH A PROBLEM, PARTICIPANTS WILL RESEARCH, TRY, SOLVE AND REFLECT, THEN APPLYING THESE LESSONS TO THEIR CLASSROOM, TEACHING, AND LIVES.TARGETED PARTICIPANTS ARE K-14 TEACHERS, 5 TEACHERS TEACHING OUT OF FIELD FOR SCIENCE/MATH/LITERACY OR GRADUATION RATES LOWER THAN STATE AVERAGES.OBJECTIVESINCREASE THE NUMBER OF K-14 EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN THE CREATION AND DELIVERY OF NIU STEAMS RESEARCH-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FOOD/AGRICULTURAL SCIENCESCOMPLETE IMMERSIVE EDIBLE CAMPUS EXPERIENCES AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY TO INTRODUCE THEM TO AG/FOOD SCIENCE EXPERTS, SKILLS NEEDED IN FOOD WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEED FOR FOOD LITERACY ACROSS ALL CITIZENS, DURING SPRING, SUMMER AND FALLPUBLISH OPEN-SOURCE STANDARDS-ALIGNED LESSONS THAT ARE CREATED AND PILOTED IN K-14 CLASSROOMS USING ESTABLISHED FOODMASTER CURRICULAR MODELS, HIGHLIGHTING RESEARCH-BASED PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS