Mr. Charles Vann’s students initially nominated him for a 2007-2008 Technology Education Outstanding Teacher Award; he was further nominated by his principal and subsequently selected as the 2008-2009 Technology Education Teacher of the Year. Mr. Charles Vann has been teaching for ten years, all at Appling County High School in Baxley, Georgia. Mr. Vann teaches Metals Technology, including welding and fabrication.

In addition to being the Appling County Teacher of the Year, Mr. Vann is also the Trade and Industry Teacher of the Year for the state of Georgia. Active as a football coach, Boy Scout leader and as a deacon in his church Mr. Vann deeply believes in America’s youth. He works hard to see that every one of his students gets a chance to achieve all that they are capable of. Mr. Vann spends a lot of his time helping young people prepare for their career emphasizing, “It is not as easy as it seems. I often advise my students to seek out training at a local technical college before entering the workforce.” He recommends apprenticeship programs and union-sponsored training that also offer quality paying careers while learning.

As complex technology becomes more and more mainstream in everyone’s daily life, Mr. Vann feels that the rapid changes are the greatest challenge to young people, “They must continue to learn, ask questions, and stay in tune with quickly changing technologies. In the last ten years technology has greatly improved our classroom environment, and made jobs more complex.” He feels that technology has given students a much more broadened horizon, as well as challenges to overcome in order to achieve success. Preparing students for these challenges is what makes Mr. Vann the 2008-2009 Technology Education Teacher of the Year.