A pair of local teachers are among 50 public high school skilled trades teachers from across the nation named as finalists this week for Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.

The area finalists are:

• Daniel Granato, an industrial technology teacher at Adirondack High School in Boonville; and
• John Stratton, an automotive technology teacher at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES in New Hartford.

The finalists are from 33 states and were selected by an independent panel of judges with expertise in career and technical education. Applications are accepted from teachers in the following trades categories: agricultural mechanics, carpentry, construction, electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, manufacturing, plumbing, transportation and welding.

“I love teaching and in particular the fact that every year is a different group of students and a different challenge to get as much learning out of the students taking my classes,” Granato wrote in his prize application. “Also it is very enjoyable watching students ‘think outside the box’ and actually problem solve to learn ways to accomplish tasks. Instead of feeding the material to the students and having them regurgitate it on a test, we use the problem solving process and the design process to solve real life problems and scenarios.”

“The thing I love most about being a skilled trades teacher is seeing bright, energetic young people finally get their chance to excel in a school setting,” Stratton wrote in his application. “I guess this means so much to me because I was one of those students. I drifted through high school putting forth a minimum of effort until I got into automotive classes. Then it was like someone flipped a switch! I found something in school that I was passionate about.”

“We deeply appreciate the work skilled trades teachers do to prepare and inspire our next generation of tradespeople,” said Eric Smidt, founder of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.

“Their work is critical, because while our country’s need for building and repairs is growing, our skilled trades workforce is shrinking. High quality skilled trades teachers offer their students a pathway not just to a good job, but also to a meaningful career and a good life.”

A total of $1.25 million in cash prizes will be awarded in October, when the field is narrowed down to 20 winners. 

With this year’s prize, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools will have awarded more than $6 million to more than 100 U.S. public high school teachers and their schools – supporting tens of thousands of students along the way. In 2022 for the first time, there were applicants from all 50 states, including a record 768 applications received.

The five grand prize winners will each receive $100,000, with $70,000 going to their public high school skilled trades program and $30,000 to the skilled trades teacher behind the winning program. The 15 additional winners will each be awarded $50,000, with $35,000 going to their public high school program and $15,000 to the teacher. Winners whose school, district and/or state policy prohibits receipt of the individual portion of prize award were eligible to apply on behalf of their school’s skilled trades program. If they win, the entire share of the prize will be awarded to the school.