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Dr. Jay Solomonson

Assistant Professor of Agricultural Education
Office
RAB Ropp Agriculture Building 140
Office Hours
On-campus:
Fall Semester: Thursdays 1 pm- 3 pm

Spring Semester: Thursdays 10 am- 12 pm

Or by appointment, please send an email.

Summer Session: Please make an appointment by email

Online using Zoom:
By appointment only, please send an email
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Selected Research

Biography

Dr. Solomonson grew up on a 1000-acre family farm in rural, Coal Valley, Illinois. After high school, he attended Black Hawk College- East then transferred to Western Illinois University where he received his B.S. degree in Agriculture- Teacher Certification. He began his career at Orion High School where he taught agricultural education classes and was the FFA advisor for 17 years. He also served as the Director of Career and Technical Education for six of those years. During that time he earned his M.S. degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University. In 2019, he accepted a position as the District 1 Program Advisor for the Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education (FCAE)- a project of the Illinois State Board of Education. He was in that position for a year prior to joining the faculty at Illinois State University in 2020. Dr. Solomonson teaches courses in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Leadership & Communications, and Agricultural Mechanics and Technology.

Current Courses

AGR 491.001 Foundations of Agricultural Education

AGR 299.002 Independent Honor Study

AGR 287.014 Independent Study

AGR 400.004 Independent Study

AGR 130.001 Introduction To Agricultural Engineering Technology

AGR 130.002 Introduction To Agricultural Engineering Technology

AGR 130.003 Introduction To Agricultural Engineering Technology

AGR 231.001 Managing & Teaching In Agricultural & Technology Laboratories

AGR 231.002 Managing & Teaching In Agricultural & Technology Laboratories

AGR 395.001 Professional Seminar In Agriculture Education

AGR 291.015 Undergraduate Teaching Experiences In Agriculture

AGR 299.003 Independent Honor Study

AGR 499.017 Independent Research For The Masters Thesis

AGR 287.017 Independent Study

AGR 400.001 Independent Study

AGR 191.001 Introduction To Agricultural Education Teacher Licensure

AGR 394.001 Methods And Procedures In Agricultural Education

AGR 395.001 Professional Seminar In Agriculture Education

AGR 390.001 Program Planning and Evaluation in Agricultural Education

AGR 291.017 Undergraduate Teaching Experiences In Agriculture

Teaching Interests & Areas

- Agricultural Education
- Agricultural Leadership and Communications
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology

Research Interests & Areas

- Agriculture Teacher Recruitment and Retention
- Experiential Learning in Agricultural Education
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

PhD Agricultural Education

Iowa State University
Ames, IA

MS Agricultural Education

University of Illinois
Champaign-Urbana, IL

BS Agriculture

Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL

NACTA Educator Award

North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture
2025

Outstanding Researcher Award

Department of Agriculture at Illinois State
2025

Outstanding Service Award

Department of Agriculture at Illinois State
2025

Outstanding Teacher Award

Department of Agriculture at Illinois State
2025

Outstanding Teaching Award- Pre-Tenure

College of Applied Science and Technology
2025

Outstanding Teacher Award

Department of Agriculture at Illinois State
2024

Outstanding Teacher Award

Department of Agriculture at Illinois State
2023

Teacher Educator of the Year

Association for Career & Technical Education- Region 3
2022

Teacher Educator of the Year

Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education (IACTE)
2022

Honorary American FFA Degree

National FFA Organization
2019

NAAE Outstanding Agriculture Teacher- State Winner

Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers
2019

Section 3 Honorary FFA Degree

Section 3 FFA Organization
2019

Illinois Agriscience Teacher of the Year

Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers
2016

Quad Cities Master Teacher Award

Quad Cities Dispatch/Rock Island Argus
2013

Quad Cities Leaders Under 40 Award

Black Hawk College Foundation
2012

Honorary State FFA Degree

Illinois Association FFA
2011

IAVAT Excellence in Teaching Award

Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers
2011

Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders Excellence in Agriculture Award

Illinois Farm Bureau
2009

NAAE Outstanding Young Member- State Winner

Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers
2007

NAAE Teachers Turn the Key Award Recipient

National Association of Agricultural Educators
2004

Abstract

A silver lining: Constructive outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by early-career agriculture teachers
Solomonson, J.
(2025)
Increasing opportunities for FFA members with disabilities: The Agricultural Skills Showcase
Solomonson, J.
(2025)
The ELS Conference: Induction programming for alternatively licensed agriculture teachers
Solomonson, J.
(2025)
Gear down! Using the tractor pull challenge to support STEM-focused agriculture teacher professional development
Solomonson, J.
(2023)
The $100 Solution: A service-learning project for students enrolled in an undergraduate agricultural leadership course
Maxwell, L., & Solomonson, J.
(2023)
Using Laerd Statistics as a data analysis, interpretation, and reporting tool in agricultural education research
Wells, T., & Solomonson, J.
(2023)
Using Photovoice as a reflective practice to evaluate preservice teacher professional development
Leman, A., & Solomonson, J.
(2023)
Using mock interviews with school administrators to prepare pre-service teachers to successfully navigate the teaching position interview process
Wells, T., & Solomonson, J.
(2023)
Examining Illinois agriculture teacher perceptions of compensation and the 3 Circles Grant
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Examining Illinois school administrators’ perceptions of the Teacher 3 Circles Grant program
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Making the connection: Integrating the RealCareer electrical wiring kit into agricultural teacher education
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Using virtual reality (VR) technology as an alternative approach to traditional Ag in the classroom field days
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
What factors influence students’ decisions to pursue agricultural degrees at non-land-grant colleges of agriculture?
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Identifying barriers to undergraduate agriculture student participation in registered student organizations
Solomonson, J.

Book, Chapter

Developing technical agriculture skills through laboratory instruction in school-based agricultural education
Solomonson, J.
(2024)
Organization and administration of school-based agricultural education systems and FFA
Solomonson, J.
(2022), Preparing agriculture and agriscience educators for the classroom

Conference Proceeding

A multi-semester examination of students’ perceptions of using a flipped classroom in an introductory-level agricultural mechanics course
Solomonson, J.
(2023)
A qualitative analysis of factors impacting an agriculture teacher’s ability to achieve positive work-life integration
Solomonson, J., Maxwell, L., Barling, K., & Harris, L.
(2023)
Barriers impeding the ability of agriculture teachers to achieve positive work-life integration during the school year
Solomonson, J.
(2023)
Help! A qualitative investigation of social support early career agriculture teachers find most beneficial
Leman, A., Solomonson, J., Smith, C., & Hernandez, A.
(2023)
What technical agriculture skills do teachers need to teach courses in the animal systems pathway?
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
What technical agriculture skills do teachers need to teach courses in the plant systems pathway?
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Why do Illinois school-based agricultural education teachers stay in the profession?
Solomonson, J.
(2021)
The role of collaboration throughout the agricultural education student teaching experience.
Solomonson, J.
(2017)

Journal Article

Examining student perceptions of engagement and learning in a flipped introductory agricultural mechanics course
Solomonson, J.
(2024)
Filling the gap: Factors influencing individuals with no school-based agricultural education background to enter the profession
Solomonson, J.
(2024)
Perceptions of agriculture teachers and school administrators toward compensation and extended contracts
Still, S., & Solomonson, J.
(2024)
Factors influencing students’ decisions to pursue agricultural degrees at non-land-grant colleges of agriculture
Solomonson, J.
(2023)
Technical agriculture skills teachers need to teach courses in the animal systems pathway
, & Solomonson, J.
(2023)
Exploring relationships between career retention factors and personal and professional characteristics of Illinois agriculture teachers
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Technical agriculture skills teachers need to teach courses in the plant systems pathway.
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Factors influencing the decision of Illinois school-based agricultural education teachers to remain in the profession
Solomonson, J., Still, S., & Maxwell, L.
62 (3), 121-137, (2021)
Factors influencing the decision of Illinois school-based agricultural education teachers to remain in the profession
Solomonson, J.
(2021)
The effect of an interactive classroom app on student performance and non-educational device usage in a college animal science course
Lugar, D., Barrowclough, M., Solomonson, J., & Maxwell, L.
(2021)
The role of collaboration throughout the agricultural education student teaching experience.
Smalley, S., Solomonson, J., & Sands, K.
(2020)
Why do they leave and where do they go? A qualitative study of Illinois school-based agriculture teachers who left the profession.
Solomonson, J.
Journal of Agricultural Education, (2019)
Factors contributing to Illinois school-based agriculture teachers’ final decision to leave the classroom.
Solomonson, J.
Journal of Agricultural Education, (2018)
Over the edge: Factors nudging mid-career, school-based agriculture teachers out of the profession.
Solomonson, J.
Journal of Agricultural Education, (2018)

Magazine/Trade Publication

ReimAGining EDucation with AI: Ten uses of artificial intelligence for the high school agriculture teacher
Solomonson, J.
(2024)
Growing agricultural science teachers in Illinois
Solomonson, J., Klein, A., & Maxwell, L.
(2023)
Investing in your own: Illinois’ strategies to support and retain beginning agriculture teachers
Solomonson, J.
(2022)
Avoiding the Burn
Solomonson, J.
(2021)
Student teaching in a pandemic: It is all about perspective.
Solomonson, J.
(2021)
Integrating drone technology into the agricultural mechanics curriculum.
Solomonson, J.
(2020)
Using virtual reality (VR) technology in school-based agricultural education programs.
Wells, K., & Solomonson, J.
(2020)
Crazy about co-op: Best practices to create a successful work-based, cooperative education program at your school.
Solomonson, J.
(2016)
Is agricultural mechanics still relevant in today’s high schools?
Solomonson, J.
(2015)
The SAE struggle: Tips to get all of your students to have a quality program.
Solomonson, J.
(2015)
The $100 Solution: Developing student leaders through an innovative service-learning project.
Solomonson, J.