Dear fellow skilled trades instructors, My name is Joel Massarello and I am a 2019 winner of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. I originally did not plan on submitting an application in 2019. I had been a finalist in 2017, but in 2018, I didn’t make it to the finalist … Continued
Dear Fellow Skilled Trades Teachers, My name is Troy Reichert and I am an industrial technology teacher from Guernsey-Sunrise Public School in the huge metropolis of Guernsey, Wyoming—population 1,200. I just wanted to encourage you all to push forward through the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence application, and imagine the endless … Continued
As schools close across the country and as skilled trades teachers work to reach students who are sheltering at home, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools hosted three online conversations among our network of skilled trades teachers to ask: how are you teaching skilled trades online? Below, we’ve compiled their recommended ideas and resources for remote … Continued
Our classrooms are safe places where students come to grow as people. In fact, for a lot of students, school might be the only place they feel safe and comfortable. With schools closing around the country in response to COVID-19, it’s hard to feel safe. The world is coming at us fast. Change is happening … Continued
As an organization dedicated to supporting teachers, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools’s thoughts are with educators and young people as they adjust to teaching and learning outside of their schools during this global public health crisis. We are deeply grateful for and inspired by the way educators and families are working together to keep students … Continued
When I was awarded second place in the 2018 Harbor Freight Tools Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence in November 2018, it was pure excitement. Someone recognized me for my commitment to teaching young adults and preparing them for lifelong learning. With the award came a $50,000 check where $35,000 went to my program and $15,000 … Continued
Being a second-place prize winner for the 2018 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was pretty cool. For one thing, it came with $50,000 that I could split between myself and my school. I found the $15,000 dollars handy to have around since my wife and I had just had a baby, … Continued
Dear Fellow Skilled Trades Teachers, My name is Bill Dunham and I am an Industrial Technology teacher from Wappello Community School District in Wapello, IA. Winning the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was just the “shot in the arm” I needed after 20-plus years in the classroom. I’m here to encourage all my … Continued
Dear Fellow Skilled Trades Teachers, My name is Matthew Barbercheck and I am an Industrial Arts/CAD/Spanish teacher from Republic-Michigamme Schools in Republic, MI. I’m writing to say this: keep going. You could win the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, just like I did. It’s not easy, but finishing the application is … Continued
Dear Fellow Skilled Trades Teachers, My name is Matt Erbach and I am a precision machining teacher from Streamwood High School in Streamwood, IL. In 2017, I was named a semifinalist for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools 2017 Prize for Teaching Excellence, but did not emerge as one of the winners. I took what … Continued