BY FREDA MIKLIN
STAFF WRITER
Mike Degitis, a teacher in the infrastructure engineering pathway of the Cherry Creek Schools’ Innovation Campus (CCIC), is one of only five teachers across the country who won the prestigious Harbor Freight Tools for Schools 2024 Grand Prize for Teaching Excellence of $100,000. Of the total, $70,000 is awarded to the program and $30,000 is awarded to the teacher. CCIC is a public school for 10th to 12th graders at 8000 S. Chambers Road in Centennial that provides educational experiences in seven pathways leading to innumerable careers.
Students practicing their construction skills in the infrastructure engineering pathway at CCIC.
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program began in 2017 to increase understanding, support, and investment in skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. Each year, $1.5 million is awarded to 25 outstanding public high school skilled trades teachers in the fields of agricultural mechanics, carpentry, construction, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, plumbing, transportation mechanics, and welding. Teachers are selected who inspire students to learn a trade that prepares them for life after graduation. Of the 25 who win, only five are selected for the grand prize.
To date, 6,041 teachers have submitted applications for these prizes that go through three rounds of judging by independent evaluators. As of this year, 160 teachers (including nine from Colorado) from 42 states have been awarded a portion of the $9,000,000 that has been distributed.
Tools for Schools Excellence in Education is funded by Smidt Foundation, created by Eric Smidt, the owner and founder of Harbor Freight Tools “to reflect his deep respect for the people who build, repair, and strengthen our communities.”
Enhancing the value of the program, prizewinners participate in a four-day summer seminar where they share best practices and develop new ideas to advance high school skilled trades education.
Two other Colorado teachers won two of the five nationwide $100,000 grand prizes in 2020. Brian Manley of CCIC won it in the automotive technology program of the transportation pathway and Mike Shallenberger of the STEM School Highlands Ranch won it for his work in teaching manufacturing.
Lorenzo Rivera, district manager at Harbor Freight Tools, explained to the folks gathered at CCIC on October 8 to see Mike Degitis receive his prize, “Harbor Freight Tools for Schools believes in the value of the education for the skills trades because it’s a direct path…to careers in a workforce that’s greatly in need…We honor the teachers, the programs, the instructors that are molding the next generation to be able to engage and be part of their communities.”
He shared that there were over 900 applications for the 25 combined regular and grand prizes for 2024 and each application went through three rounds of judging by “industry experts, philanthropists, and educational leaders across the country.”
Rivera shared a quote from Mike’s application, “As a skilled trades teacher, what I love most is the opportunity to ignite a passion for craftsmanship in my students. I am deeply passionate about sharing not just the technical skills, but also the values of dedication, precision, and creativity that are inherent in the trades.”
Cherry Creek Schools’ Superintendent Chris Smith presented Mike with a congratulatory letter from Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko and said, “Mike, you are an incredible teacher…You care about your kids like no other and that’s why they are going to be successful. That’s why this program is successful. Thank you.”
Scott Springer, education advisor for the Tools for Schools program, shared a thought from Eric Smidt, its founder: “Our future will be built by students in today’s skilled trades classrooms. We appreciate the outstanding teachers who are preparing the next generation of skilled trades professionals across the United States.”
Scott Springer told us, “In Degitis’ classroom, learning begins with addressing a real-life challenge, such as proposing a solution for the unhoused in Denver. For the past five years, students built five tiny homes each year, at material cost, for a village in downtown Denver that provides housing and wraparound services, such as career counseling and mental health care. Now students plan to build a double wide trailer for the unhoused in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Berthoud, Colorado.”
Asked by a reporter, “What makes this so compelling, to be able to do these projects and have this impact on kids’ lives?” Mike Degitis responded, “It’s an impact not only on the kids, but on our community. We’re talking about generational change in these kids. They are not only going to learn the value of hard work. They’re going to see that if they put their blood, sweat, and tears into something, they can create someone’s home.”