• Faculty & Experts at AMP

    Meet the dedicated agriscience educators, mentors, and industry professionals who inspire and guide students on their educational journey at AMP. Our team brings a wealth of agricultural expertise, passion, and real-world experience to provide an unparalleled agriscience education.

    AMP has established a collaborative learning environment where agricultural experts are our teachers, working together to provide our students with top tier education in plant science, animal science, food science, agricultural engineering, agribusiness, and natural resource management. Our state qualified faculty includes experienced agriscience experts who bring their diverse backgrounds in various agricultural fields into the classroom. They empower students to explore, experiment, and excel in diverse areas of agricultural science.

    Passionate Educators & Industry Leaders

AgriScience Program Director

Phone: 210-356-1517

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Tarleton State University - Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Services & Development Texas A&M University at Kingsville - Master of Science Degree in Agriculture Sciences Education Service Center, Region 20 - Principal Certification

Doak Stewart, Agriscience Magnet Program Director

Since 2013, I have had the honor of serving in the position as the Director for the NEISD Agriscience Magnet Program (AMP) located on the campus of James Madison High School. As the Director, I am responsible for the mission of the AMP which is to develop the potential of students for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through an educational experience in the agriculture, food and natural resource curricula.

I have been a faculty member of the AMP and James Madison High School since 1997. During this time, I have instructed courses in Principles of AFNR, Agriculture Mechanics, Animal Science, Equine Science, Meat Processing, Agribusiness and Professional Communications. I was also fortunate to coach many talented students in Leadership and Career Development Events and guided them to National FFA Championship titles in Agricultural Issues Forum and Food Science & Technology competitions.

I have been privileged to also serve in several professional leadership roles during my career to include the President and Coordinator of the Area VII Vocational Agriculture Teachers of Texas Association, a team member of the Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education (CASE) initiative, and AFNR committee representative for the Career & Technical Education TEKS Review. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

The AMP Director oversees a wide range of responsibilities to ensure the smooth operation of the program. These duties include managing the AMP discipline to maintain a conducive learning environment and tracking attendance to ensure student participation. The director is also in charge of the AMP budget, which involves allocating resources effectively across various needs. Building operations and campus safety are critical areas, requiring coordination of maintenance, custodial tasks, and implementation of safety and crisis plans. The director facilitates the use of the facility, including event setup and ensuring the grounds are well-maintained. Additionally, they oversee the Continuous Improvement and Innovation Plan (CIIP) and the Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS), play a pivotal role in organizing AMP events, and manage the School Assistance Fund (SAF) and Campus Activity Fund (CAF). The director also supports academic excellence by coordinating student teacher placements, maintaining teacher and AMP websites for effective communication, and developing the master schedule to optimize educational delivery.

  • Joshua Anderson

    Joshua Anderson cultivates life on a family-operated farm, alongside his wife and four children. As an educator, he's taught a variety of courses across the AMP pathways including Plant Systems, Animal Science, Environmental & Natural Resources, and the burgeoning Food Science pathway, focusing on Food Processing and Safety/Technology. He's also involved in introductory agricultural courses.

    Passionate about guiding students towards meaningful career paths or hobbies, Joshua actively engages in managing poultry projects, advising on research, and assisting in presentation preparations. His educational philosophy is to foster an environment ripe for exploration, encouraging a lifelong passion for learning. Joshua is dedicated to ensuring that students not only understand the curriculum but also expand their horizons regarding future career possibilities.

    Achievements

    • Coached and trained nearly 100 teams or individuals at the highest of state levels, with more than 20 of those teams having success at the national level.

  • Brittany Bowman

    Brittany Bowman, a local product of Madison High School and an enthusiastic FFA member during her time there, pursued higher education in agricultural leadership at Texas A&M University, followed by a master's in Agricultural Education. She brings a rich background of experience from her years in 4-H County Extension work.

    With several years dedicated to teaching, Brittany has always emphasized understanding her students as individuals, believing in the power of learning about their lives outside the classroom to foster positive relationships and engaging learning experiences. She encourages her students to strive for their best selves, equipping them for life beyond school with lessons in plant science and floral design. Her teaching philosophy includes a strong focus on accountability, mental and physical well-being, rooted in her own passion for agriculture that began with raising pigs in high school.

    Achievements

    • State Champion Floriculture team
    • State Reserve Champion Public Relations team

  • Katherine Dalton

    Katherine Dalton, known for her lively and engaging personality, is committed to excelling as an agricultural educator. Specializing in plant science and horticulture, Katherine views the synergy between classroom learning, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE), and FFA as crucial to a comprehensive agricultural education. A proud graduate of Tarleton State University, she earned her Bachelor of Science and later a Master's in Agriculture and Consumer Resources.

    Over a decade of teaching at Madison High School has reinforced Katherine's belief that education transcends mere academic instruction; it's about being a guiding figure for students. She blends traditional and modern teaching methods to captivate her students, aiming to be a mentor and a model of integrity. Katherine's ultimate goal is for her students to appreciate agriculture's critical role in everyday life, a mission that is reflected in the success of her students at various competitive levels.

    Achievements

    • State Champion Nursery Landscape Team – 2021
    • National Champion Nursery/Landscape Team – 2021
    • State Champion Agronomy Team – 2022
    • Gold Ranked Agronomy Team – 5th Place at Nationals – 2022
    • State Champion Entomology Team - 2023 
    • STAR AWARD Applicants
    • Multiple State Champions 
    • NEEF Grant Recipient

  • Janell McMullan

    Hailing from San Antonio, Janell McMullan found her calling early as a devoted FFA member, taking pride in showing pigs and steers. This dedication led her to Texas State University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in General Agriculture, alongside a certification for teaching.

    Janell's teaching career spans over two decades, with a significant portion dedicated to the NEISD. Beyond the classroom, she boasts a decade of experience in veterinary clinics. As a mother to two FFA-involved daughters, Janell's teaching ethos revolves around embodying the change one wishes to see globally. She’s committed to nurturing this mindset within her Animal Science students at AMP.

    Achievements

    • Champion and Reserve Champion at both national and state levels with the FFA Veterinary Science team
    • Third-place at the National FFA Marketing Plan competition
    • Leading teams to victory as National and State Champions in High School BBQ Cook-offs

  • Jared Rode

    Raised on a secluded ranch, Jared Rode's upbringing in cattle, sheep, and hay farming ingrained in him a sense of self-sufficiency and creativity in repairs and construction. These skills translated into a pursuit of education in diesel technology, eventually guiding him to educate future generations in trade skills.

    With a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Science and Associate degrees in Diesel Equipment Technology, spanning heavy truck to agricultural and construction equipment, Jared is also a proficient certified welder.

    In his teaching, Jared values treating students with dignity and respect, seeing them as responsible individuals. He aims to maintain a dynamic and supportive learning environment, serving both as an educator and mentor.

    Achievements

    • 8 Top Ten finishes in Tractor Technician CDE Teams; 1 State Champion
    • 3 Top Ten finishes in ATMS CDE; 1 State Champion

  • Mackenzie Witzel

    Raised on a sprawling commercial cattle operation that stretches across Colorado and Kansas, Mackenzie Witzel has been deeply involved in 4-H and FFA, showcasing cattle, sheep, and swine. His leadership journey saw him serving as Colorado 4-H State Vice President and Colorado FFA State President. In college, his skills were further recognized on a Reserve National Champion Livestock Judging team.

    Mackenzie's academic path led him to Kansas State University, where he earned degrees in Agricultural Education and Animal Science. His professional experience includes teaching in Oklahoma and Kansas and serving as a Meat and Poultry Inspector. Since joining NEISD, Mackenzie has made significant contributions through supervising the Lamb Feeder Program, coaching, and teaching Agribusiness and Animal Science. His teaching philosophy is to blend theoretical knowledge with practical application, encouraging students to become advocates for their learning and future aspirations.

    Achievements

    • Holder of the 2009 Colorado FFA State Degree
    • Service as the 2010-11 Colorado FFA State President
    • Recipient of the 2011 American FFA Degree
    • Awarded the 2023 Honorary Lonestar FFA Degree