Dakota Construction Trades Teacher Named Best in State

The Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society confirmed last month what Joe Churches' students have known for years, that their construction trades instructor is a master of his craft.

Churches, who teaches construction trades at , was this year's recipient of the Master Teacher award from MITES, a professional organization of industrial technology, technology education, and career technical education educators whose purpose is the development of industrial and technology education at all levels of private and public education.

This award is the highest honor MITES can bestow on a teacher at the state level.

"(Joe Churches) goes above and beyond in everything he does," said Claire Brisson, director of career and technical education in Chippewa Valley. "It came as no surprise to me when I got the call that they selected him as the master teacher."

Brisson praised Churches for the "extraordinary amount of time" he puts into his work and his "sincere care for students."

"It's a vocation for him, not just a job," she added.

During Churches' 13 years in Chippewa Valley Schools, he has guided students through the construction of six homes for , countless sheds and canoes and mentored students beyond the classroom by placing them in apprenticeships and jobs immediately after graduation.

But while his colleagues named him a master teacher, Churches, in his capacity as president of MITES, selected another Dakota teacher for the President's Award, also presented at the MITES State Convention. Cliff Duran, who is now retired from his work as a woodworking and cabinet making teacher, was named the 2012 recipient of this award.

The district received a third and final award in the form of a $24,000 CNC router that Churches' won in drawing during the convention.