Presidents Report
by Tom Hull
October 12, 2009
The 2009 TEO conference was a well-run event with sessions offered in Manufacturing, Automotive
and Drafting. We have locked in our conference site for 2010. It will be held at Silverton High School.
2009 Teacher-of-the Year- Mike Bryant- Myrtle Point High School
The first few years of teaching is brutal for new teachers. Many are in survival mode, and even
respected educators like Harry Wong give new teachers the right to “mess things up” a little while
learning to survive. Some don’t even survive; the statistics are that 1/3 drop out after three years
and a full 1/2 by the end of five years. The numbers for CTE teachers cited leaving the job in the first
three years is even greater.
CTE teachers have additional challenges the first year. Many times they are inheriting a program run
by a teacher in the “retired but working mode.” The equipment is broken and the kids are not ready
to learn. If the teacher is coming from industry, lesson planning and classroom management must be
learned on the run. Often a mentor teacher is not provided.
When a new teacher does struggle through the first couple years and get their program in order, the
last thing they want to do is move schools and do it all over again. They are not innocent this time,
but know what they are getting into.
Mike Bryant is your 2009 TEO Teacher-of-the-Year for these reasons:
1.Mike gets his students to achieve results within weeks of coming into a new school, and he has
done it three times in three different schools. Walk into his class and his students are on-task,
working safely and engaged in activities that challenge their potential. This is an extremely difficult
climate to maintain, but he has the personal and professional tools to do so.
2.Mike has the creativity to challenge his talented students and simultaneously has the patience to
make sure his educationally disadvantaged students get the time and attention they need to
progress.
3.Mike understands that the job of a CTE teacher cannot be accomplished within the time frame of an
8-hour workday. I have seen him laying tile floor on a Sunday night in the classroom and working on a
Saturday afternoon repairing shop equipment. This is not “commitment.” This is simply accepting the
unfortunate fact that without this extra effort, a well run program is not possible.
I am pleased to present Mike Bryant as your 2009 Technology Teachers of Oregon Teacher-of-the-
Year.
by Tom Hull
October 12, 2009
The 2009 TEO conference was a well-run event with sessions offered in Manufacturing, Automotive
and Drafting. We have locked in our conference site for 2010. It will be held at Silverton High School.
2009 Teacher-of-the Year- Mike Bryant- Myrtle Point High School
The first few years of teaching is brutal for new teachers. Many are in survival mode, and even
respected educators like Harry Wong give new teachers the right to “mess things up” a little while
learning to survive. Some don’t even survive; the statistics are that 1/3 drop out after three years
and a full 1/2 by the end of five years. The numbers for CTE teachers cited leaving the job in the first
three years is even greater.
CTE teachers have additional challenges the first year. Many times they are inheriting a program run
by a teacher in the “retired but working mode.” The equipment is broken and the kids are not ready
to learn. If the teacher is coming from industry, lesson planning and classroom management must be
learned on the run. Often a mentor teacher is not provided.
When a new teacher does struggle through the first couple years and get their program in order, the
last thing they want to do is move schools and do it all over again. They are not innocent this time,
but know what they are getting into.
Mike Bryant is your 2009 TEO Teacher-of-the-Year for these reasons:
1.Mike gets his students to achieve results within weeks of coming into a new school, and he has
done it three times in three different schools. Walk into his class and his students are on-task,
working safely and engaged in activities that challenge their potential. This is an extremely difficult
climate to maintain, but he has the personal and professional tools to do so.
2.Mike has the creativity to challenge his talented students and simultaneously has the patience to
make sure his educationally disadvantaged students get the time and attention they need to
progress.
3.Mike understands that the job of a CTE teacher cannot be accomplished within the time frame of an
8-hour workday. I have seen him laying tile floor on a Sunday night in the classroom and working on a
Saturday afternoon repairing shop equipment. This is not “commitment.” This is simply accepting the
unfortunate fact that without this extra effort, a well run program is not possible.
I am pleased to present Mike Bryant as your 2009 Technology Teachers of Oregon Teacher-of-the-
Year.
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