GFHS Michael Warner named Innovative Teacher of the Year

Granite Falls High School Teacher Michael Werner was named “Innovative Teacher-of-the-Year” by the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing at the Future of Flight Aviation Center.

This prestigious award was presented at the End of Academic Year 2013-2014 Advisory Board Meeting.  The Center of Excellence also recognized Amy Hatfield, Dean of Workforce Development and Basic Studies, as “Dean of the Year” from Olympic College and Boeing’s Bret Hinton and Mantz Brinkman were named “Industry Partners of the Year. 

Mary Kaye Bredeson, the Center of Excellence Executive Director, introduced Werner as a “critical K-12 partner filling the pipeline with technically skilled graduates ready to enter the aerospace field in engineering and manufacturing.” Bredeson commended Werner for his exceptional work at Granite Falls High School through the manufacturing program and innovative contributions. Werner has promoted co-ed involvement in the field and has helped increase the female participation in the field significantly through the competitive ‘eco car program’ that competes at Shell Eco- Marathon Americas©.  Werner established the first all-girls eco car team called, “ShopGirls.”   Teacher and Innovator, Michael Werner, added “A very big part of why I teach is to inspire.  I help provide kids with opportunity and exposure to new and interesting things so that they can apply what they have learned in academia with real projects in the real world.” 

Also in attendance at the event were several of Michael Werner’s community supporters (volunteers, colleagues, friends and sponsors) including Granite Falls School District Superintendent Linda Hall.  Werner shared his appreciation, “I have a lot of great people that have helped me and keep helping me to make things happen–Industry partners, volunteers, colleagues, the District.” Werner continued, “This award was a great honor and I am very privileged to have significant partners and supporters who have been here since the beginning.”

 Superintendent Hall said of Michael Werner, “He is a role model for the nation.  He has built the eco program from the ground up and now his teams (ShopGirls and Urban Autos) compete against colleges and universities.”  Hall continued, “It was great to see the business world honor a teacher who is a pioneer for the industry in and outside of the classroom.”  Werner truly embodies his vision to, “expose new opportunities that will provides students with the pathway from Play in elementary school to developing a Passion in High School to joining a Purpose in the working world.”