Ag educator wins national award for mentoring and leadership work

Justin Heupel is one of six ag educators nationwide to receive the National Association of Agricultural Educators’ Teacher Mentor Award. 

Heupel is a longtime teacher at the H.E. Robinson Vocational Agriculture Center in Kalispell. He's taught agriculture for nearly 40 years, 30 of them with the Kalispell Public Schools program. 

The award, which was presented to Heupel at the Dec. 8-12, 2025, NAAE Convention in Nashville, recognizes members who have excelled in preparing ag educators starting out in the profession by offering advice and guiding them to their own professional strengths.

With a career defined by service and leadership, Heupel has mentored agricultural educators at every stage of their professional journey. He has hosted three student teachers and has provided guidance and support to countless new and veteran teachers across Montana. His mentoring approach is intentional and personal, beginning with face-to-face conversations and consistent follow-up phone calls and messages grounded in empathy and active listening, according to a press release from NAAE. 

“Whether coaching an early-career teacher or helping a veteran educator build confidence in a new content area, Heupel’s practical and compassionate guidance has left a lasting impact on the profession,” according to a press release. “From legislative advocacy to everyday mentorship, he continues to invest in the success of others, helping build a stronger future for agricultural education, one teacher at a time,” the press release states. 

NAAE is a professional organization for agricultural educators with more than 10,000 members nationwide. The organization advocates for ag education, provides professional development and works to recruit and retain ag teachers in schools.