CTE teacher Drew Himes was recognized for the District 99 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Instructor of the Year award February 26. This award honors teachers who exemplify excellence through innovative teaching strategies and steadfast commitment. He was presented the award by CTE department chairperson Brian Veit at the Technology Center of DuPage.

For Himes, the recognition means more than just the title itself. He values the time and effort it took to get nominated for this award.

“It means a lot,” Himes said. “I really appreciate someone taking the time, the opportunity to nominate me, and recognizing the work that we are doing.” 

That “work” differs from the norms of a traditional classroom. Himes is the only teacher for the Incubator and Accelerator programs at DGN. In Himes’ Incubator course, students are pushed and encouraged to take a step outside of usual class structures like tests and quizzes. They are instead encouraged to focus on hands-on learning. Himes emphasizes learning by doing in his classroom in order to represent real-world situations.

A part of his approach to learning is bringing in guest speakers, mentors, and coaches to help students more than a textbook or a slideshow. These guests are often real entrepreneurs who are able to provide students with insight into possible industries and careers through their real-life experiences and success. According to Himes, this adds importance to lessons that can’t always be reached by a teacher alone.

“I really focus on learning by doing. It seems like this better way to learn rather than just out of a textbook, with guest speakers, coaches, and mentors. Students are learning from people that actually do these types of things in the real world, real entrepreneurs, as opposed to me has a lot of value,” Himes said.

Himes believes that the CTE program as a whole is especially meaningful in real-world connections. These courses tend to focus more on preparing students for life beyond high school. These courses allow for the exploration of career paths while still teaching students practical skills. 

“It’s all real application. It’s all stuff meant to prepare kids for life when you leave these walls,” Himes said. ”I wouldn’t want to teach anything else. I think it’s so applicable for you guys to help you figure out what you want to do with your futures, but then a glimpse of what those futures would look like as well.” 

Beyond the technical knowledge, Himes hopes his students leave class with skills that benefit them no matter the path they choose. He always emphasizes collaboration and critical thinking skills as key takeaways, alongside increased confidence.

“I hope they walk away feeling like they have increased their creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills, and that they feel more confident in those different areas. That’s my ultimate goal,” Himes said. 

Co-Workers are not the only ones noticing Himes impact in the classroom. His teaching style has made an impact on many of his students. Jaqueline Lally, a senior at DGN, has had Himes for three of the four years of her time at North. Lally has taken Intro to Business, Incubator, and accelerator with him as a teacher. 

“Himes classes are different from many of the classes I’ve taken at DGN. Himes is constantly taking our feedback on how he can improve the class and actually using it. Every year, I have taken a class with Mr. Himes he has made changes to make the class better,” Lally said. 

There are more and more students who take Incubator and Accelerator each year. Students are learning that these classes tend to be less traditional and more innovative. Incubator and Accelerator are classes that not only teach you how to run a real business but also allow you to run one as well. This opportunity has made an impact on many DGN students. 

“Now in my second year of Incubator/Accelerator with Himes, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot. Mr.Himes brings in speakers, coaches, and mentors to not only teach but also guide us through our business. Himes also plans field trips for the programs that add another experience to the course as well,” Lally said.

His students’ success shows the impact and changes he makes in the classroom. According to Veit, students have taken home the title of Crosstown Pitch Night 4 years in a row.  Himes coordinates over 40 community mentors/coaches to give his students as many opportunities as possible. Students constantly describe him as someone who goes above and beyond academics and makes an effort to form real-life connections as well. Himes also stands out for his willingness to explore non-traditional teaching methods, whether it is participating in activities with his students or coordinating guest speakers.

 “He goes out of his way to make personal connections with his students, and he never leaves a kid behind. He genuinely cares about what he does and who he does it for, and any of his peers can see that,” junior Casey Katsafanas said. “Himes wasn’t afraid to embarrass himself in front of the class because he knew it would benefit us.”

Not only does Himes build meaningful relationships in his classroom, but he also always encourages creativity and thinking outside of the box. He gives his students the freedom and flexibility to explore ideas, even if they don’t initially succeed. 

“He is always open to new ideas, no matter how crazy, and tries to find a way to make it all work,” junior Reid Johnson said.

Not only do Himes students recognize the impact community members and mentors do as well. Veit shares that Himes represents the values at the core of District 99’s CTE program:  Care, Trust, Belonging, Preparing, and evolving. His dedication to making his classroom a place where students can truly thrive and grow doesn’t go unnoticed. 

“Drew is an incredible asset to the future generation of value creators in our society. As a former student of his myself, he inspired me to dream bigger and planted the seed of entrepreneurship in me. He was the only DGN teacher that understood my true potential,”  former student, mentor, and coach in the INCubator program, Alex Duta said.

Himes is constantly working with community members to create as many opportunities for his entrepreneurial students as possible. Himes is taking the time and initiative to manage all of those relationships while still teaching, which shows a true level of commitment and dedication to his students. Community members are a big part of the Incubator program and support Himes in his mission to prepare students for the future.

“I can say with zero hesitation that Drew has an extremely positive impact on his students. His students are being taught to think outside the box, and are given the opportunity to fail, fail, and fail again – learning what it takes to truly succeed.  Every year, I walk away impressed with the knowledge and insight his students have when it comes to starting a business, and being people of integrity and passion,” Incubator program mentor Tony Myers said.

Himes has made a great impact during his 15 years of teaching and assisting students within the entrepreneurial programs at DGN. His impact has not gone unnoticed, with many students and mentors mentioning his positive influence on their personal and professional careers. 

“Currently, Drew is DGN’s Instructor for Incubator and Accelerator for Entrepreneurship.  While he has been working with our Entrepreneurship program for much longer, I’ve been able to see him thrive and do great things each and every year. His program’s past successes do not stifle his desire to improve,” Veit said.