St. Charles tech teachers honored

Two St. Charles District 303 teachers were honored Friday by the Technology Education Association of Illinois for making significant contributions to the field of technology education.

While the Thompson Middle School 7/8th Grade Center's Technology Education Program has earned the Middle School Program of the Year Award from TEAI, exploratory teachers Rob Harmon and Ed Coyle were selected as Co-Middle School Teachers of the Year.

Illinois Project Lead The Way Director Brenda Pacey presented the teachers with the awards at the school.

The Middle School Program of the Year Award is an acknowledgment of a superior technology education program which provides fundamental knowledge about the development of technology, its effect on people, the environment and culture, and draws its instructional contents from communication, energy utilization, production, and transportation.

"We're fortunate to have students that are engaged and interested in taking the courses, so we just run with it, but the passion and engagement is already there," Harmon Said.

Most of the classes he and Coyle teach are very hands-on.

"When you apply real world problems in context, and you do it in a safe environment like a classroom, when you make that connection as to why it's important later, you get enthusiasm, you get engagement and you get to show the kids how to apply the critical thinking and problem-solving skills," Harmon said.