Dublin FFA advisor Derek Dunlap recently received the coveted ‘Here by the Owl’ award for Area IV at the State FFA convention.
This prestigious honor, also known as the Golden Owl Educator of Year award, recognizes an outstanding agricultural science teacher who exemplifies dedication, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to serving students and agricultural education. He was selected from educators representing schools stretching from Abilene to Wichita Falls.
“I’m proud of it, and I wasn’t expecting it,” Dunlap said. “There are a lot more deserving teachers out there so for my name to be in the mix, it’s a pretty unexpected honor. Education is a pretty thankless job and we don’t do it for the ‘thank you’s or the awards. I do it for the kids.”
With the Golden Owl award, 12 FFA teachers across the state receive area honors and then one teacher receives Educator of the Year which was Dunlap’s friend Lynita Foster with Madisonville FFA.
Dunlap’s agriculture background originally comes from growing up on a farm where they raised sheep, cattle and grew commodities like wheat and hay.
He then transitioned into showing with 4H and then FFA at Olney High School.
What sealed the deal for his decision to become an agriculture educator was attending national FFA convention while in high school.
“Once I realized how big and how fun everything was … I can remember sitting at National Convention thinking I want to do this forever,” he said.
That passion has led to an education from Tarleton State University, and 17 years as an ag teacher with Dunlap about to start year eight of teaching at Dublin ISD. He has previously taught in Stephenville and in Anson. He also still raises cattle and grows wheat and hay with his dad.
Dunlap’s family is extremely proud of him, especially his wife Riley and his kids who received a special wave from their dad on the stage at the State FFA Convention.
“Riley is a pretty decorated teacher herself so for her to see me getting any kind of award, she’s very proud of it and knows the hard work that goes into it,” Dunlap said. “You go 17 years and you just do your thing. We hang all these banners and we win all these awards and we get all these scholarships, and it’s for the kids, as it should be. Recognition for us doesn’t come often so when it does it’s a surprise. I would have never guessed that I would have won this.” In Dublin’s FFA program, Dunlap will be co-teaching with Sophie Hayhurst (who is over horticulture, agriscience fair) and new ag teacher Ricardo Amador (who is over ag mechanics). Dunlap teaches all incoming freshmen as well as livestock production and advanced animal science. All three instructors also participate in livestock/ag mechanics showing and training teams for county and major shows.
Hayhurst, who nominated Dunlap for the award recounted a unique story involving the FFA teacher in her nomination form.
“Dublin High School has a poverty rate 1.5 times greater than the rate in Texas and 20% of our students are Limited English Proficiency. This demographic of students may be daunting to some educators who may not understand the potential these students bring to the FFA chapter,” she wrote. “Derek has a natural ability to see freshman potential even when they are quiet. This story highlights his dedication to an immigrant student within our FFA chapter who went on to become the 2024 State Champion Spanish Creed Speaker. Originally she was hesitant to enter the Spanish Creed Speaking contest. Derek’s true belief of this student’s potential encouraged her to share her story as it relates to the FFA Creed,” she continued. “Derek recognizes that all students have a unique story to tell and this is what made her develop into the state champion that she is from the inside out. His ability to develop student speakers who are confident, positive, prideful and true to themselves is commendable and honorable as it isn’t always about the win, but the growth of the student and the ability to offer students the opportunity to be recognized at the highest level possible.”
It is the second time in three years Dublin has received an Area IV Golden Owl award, with retired ag teacher Darren Price receiving the award in 2024.
For more exciting agriculture news, see next week’s edition of The Dublin Citizen.