‘Teaching and working with young people is a joy.’ Technology educator named Anne Arundel County’s top teacher. – Capital Gazette

When Charles Whittaker retired just after a lengthy profession in design, he assumed about acquiring a section-time position, it’s possible a thing inspiring a young era. A pal suggested instructing.

Now 14 years later on, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning teacher at the Middle for Applied Engineering North is the 2022 Anne Arundel County Community Educational institutions Trainer of the Calendar year.

“Teaching and doing the job with youthful persons is a pleasure,” Whittaker stated Thursday. “It’s an great put for young children to get trained for the professions that are actually booming now.”

Whittaker, who was honored at a Tuesday evening ceremony, teaches at CAT North in Severn immediately after performing 30 a long time for Unilever Food items, in accordance to a news launch from AACPS. Whittaker has a master’s diploma in small business administration and is pursuing his divinity diploma at Wesley Seminary, in accordance to the release.

He teaches the trade of keeping and putting in heating and cooling tools, as well as the metallic-performing needed to make the ducts that shift air by way of a constructing.

He said just about every 12 months he speaks to organizations to locate out what they are hunting for in an staff, and he adjusts the curriculum to make guaranteed students are studying the complex skills they will need in the industry.

He also teaches them how to converse to shoppers, companies and professionals — techniques that are critical for achievement. Customers at times get upset, and recognizing how to diffuse the predicament is worthwhile, Whittaker mentioned.

He supports pupils by supporting them with marketplace certifications that can direct to very well-spending work, possibly suitable out of faculty or via put up-secondary education, he reported.

He explained creating a student’s independence is aspect of his educating philosophy.

“It’s all about the children, preparing them for a limitless foreseeable future,” he reported. “It offers me pleasure to occur back every single day.”

He mentioned he has navigated teaching in the course of the pandemic by treating college students with equity and love, whilst preserving rigorous expectations.

Whittaker is a graduate of Glen Burnie Large University, and lives in Severn. AACPS said Whittaker is the initial vocation and technological innovation education trainer to be named Instructor of the Yr given that the award’s inception in 1987.

“We all have the skill to teach, empower, encourage and embolden our youngsters for every problem that will come their way with wisdom and authority. We have what it takes to go learners to occupations they hardly ever aspired to,” Whittaker throughout the 36th once-a-year Excellence in Instruction Awards, held Tuesday at the event middle at Maryland Are living! Casino.

Whittaker was nominated by the school’s principal, Joe Rose. Whittaker is chair of the school’s Construction Office.

“Mr. Whittaker demonstrates unconditional like and relentless pursuit of perfection for all of his pupils, the HVAC marketplace, and the company group,” Rose wrote. “He not only investigates possibilities for himself, but by his selfless management he normally seems to be to provide other people.”

Finalists for AACPS Trainer of the Calendar year included Lacie Harold of Arundel Center Faculty, Nafeesah Marcellus of Brock Bridge Elementary School, Jennifer Lowe of Crofton Significant Faculty, and Molly Stavely of Glen Burnie Higher School.

Katie Hansen of Annapolis Area Christian School was named Impartial Universities Trainer of the Calendar year.