Moapa Valley FFA Advisor Retires, But Won’t Be Far Away

By GRACIE LEAVITT

The Progress

Moapa Valley High School will be losing a beloved teacher this year. Long-time science teacher and FAA Advisor Denise O’Toole has decided to retire from her full time teaching duties. But she will still be an indirect part of the ongoing work of the MVHS Agricultural Farm.

Last week, MVHS students and staff alike talked to The Progress about the influence O’Toole has been on their school and the community.

“She has always made it so much fun by taking me to FFA activities such as state and SLC,” said MVHS senior Emily Matheson. “She has been so supportive with everything I’ve done. I’ve made so many friends and lifelong relationships. She’s helped out with numerous school activities and always been willing to participate in anything she’s asked to.”

MVHS alumnus Mackenzie Kephart is currently studying as an Animal Science Major at Montana State University. She has plans to go into livestock genetics and nutrition. But she got her start in these interests in FFA with O’Toole.

“Mrs. O’Toole changed my education in a way I could have never imagined would have happened,” Kephart said. “It was through her classes and encouragement that I became so involved within FFA and the agriculture industry. I would have never known that agriculture was my calling without her direction and teaching.”

O’Toole said that she is grateful for the time she had to spend with them and what it has taught her.
“I love learning myself and teaching others,” O’Toole said in an interview last week. “So teaching was a great career for me.”

O’Toole reflected on the time that she has spent with students in instruction as well as in travel to various FFA events across the country. These have included frequent trips to places like Reno, Lake Tahoe, Winnemucca, Carson City, Elko, Eureka and other various towns in Nevada; as well as flying to Louisville, Kentucky and Indianapolis, Indiana for National FFA conventions.

I loved to see students grow and succeed in agriculture, science, and FFA,” O’Toole said.
“I demanded a lot of myself as a teacher,” O’Toole added. “I will definitely not miss all the time I spent after the school day working on lesson plans, grades and all the other tasks teachers don’t have time to get done at school. But I will miss the students and staff that I have had the pleasure to work with over the years.”

MVHS Principal, Hal Mortensen said that O’Toole’s retirement would be deeply felt at the school. “We are sad after having her 30 years of service here!” he said. “She has been a tremendous supporter for Ag and the FFA program.”

Replacing O’Toole as the school’s FFA Advisor will be local resident Lacey Tom. Tom is an MVHS alumnus herself. She was very active in FFA when she attended the school.
Tom has been serving as FFA Advisor at Virgin Valley High School over the past year.
“She has big shoes to fill, but she will be great!” Mortensen said.

O’Toole said that she sees tremendous potential for the local FFA program with Tom as its advisor.
“I know that Mrs. Tom will do a great job teaching agriculture and as one of the Moapa Valley FFA advisors,” O’Toole said. “Lacey has a passion for Agriculture and FFA; the students are in great hands.”

But O’Toole also emphasized that she won’t be far away from the program. Her husband Kevin O’Toole is the Supervisor at the MVHS Ag Farm and he will not be retiring yet. So the couple will still continue to be a part of the program.

The farm will still be open and run for the students to grow produce and learn valuable skills, O’Toole said. Events and services such as the Pumpkin Patch, Shade House, Farm Days and more will still be provided.

“I will still volunteer to help with Farm Day field trips, like other Farm Bureau members, and I will help with whatever else the chapter needs.” O’Toole said. “And I look forward to seeing greath things from the Ag students going forward.”

Tom expressed appreciation to O’Toole for her many years of service. “I truly admire her!” Tom said of O’Toole. “Even more so looking at the classes she teaches. She handles everybody. I also feel gratitude for what the strong foundation she has left me to work with.”

Tom added that she is excited to be coming back home to work at MVHS now after her brief time at VVHS.

“My hopes are to have an incredible experience for our students, to help them see potential for all in Ag, to showcase Ag careers,” Tom said.