Mark Meyer, a Marion teacher and FFA adviser for 34 years, formally will be inducted June 3 into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame.

He was surprised by an announcement Thursday during a high school assembly.

Meyer was nominated by principal Donald Raymer.

To qualify for the award, a teacher must be certified for 25 years or more. The nomination must be accompanied by five letters of recommendation and a one-page document explaining teaching philosophy, honors, awards, and recognitions over his years of service, an educational background summary, and statements of community involvement and personal teaching highlights.

Raymer was notified March 27 that Meyer had been accepted.

“Mr. Meyer is super deserving of this honor,” Raymer said. “His passion for students and career and technical education is demonstrated daily and we are blessed to have him as a teacher at USD 408.”

All of Meyer’s years as a teacher have been at Marion High School.

He has taught agriscience, animal science, plant and soil science, horticulture, agribusiness, business management, ag mechanics, welding, ag fabrication, ag power and technology, mechanical systems in agriculture, technical applications in agriculture, and general science.

Meyer said he got joy every year in helping young students succeed.

Class of 2022 graduate Mickelly Soyez, now studying health and science courses at Cottey College in Missouri with plans to go to medical school, said Meyer’s agriculture classes helped prepare her for classes she now takes.

“As a teacher, he cared for the kids, not just that we got the information,” she said. “I liked that learning was hands-on. He largely influenced me as a person, I would say, in my high school classes, especially through FFA.”

Class of 2014 graduate Clint Kroupa now farms in both Marion and Thomas counties.

Kroupa said Meyer was one of his favorite teachers.

He especially appreciates the discipline Meyer taught him.

“He knows so much in several different areas, it would take three teachers to replace him,” Kroupa said. “I was always going to come back and farm, but the stuff I learned along the way definitely helped with the skill set,

“He’s a great teacher, and the stuff he taught is the stuff you use.”