The Alamance-Burlington School System’s Career and Technology Education teacher of the year says the award really should go to his students.
Joe Miciotto of Western High School said the students’ hard work and dedication reflect on him.
“It’s humbling. The award is really for my students,” Miciotto said. “I am grateful for the award. I just want to do the best I can do. It is a reflection on the great administration and students we have here at Western. I just want to make the students, Western, all of the great CTE teachers here in the county, and the school system proud at the state level.”
But Western Principal Bear Bryant praised Miciotto’s dedication to his students.
“He goes above and beyond daily to prepare his students for life beyond high school. We are proud he is a Warrior,” he said.
Miciotto isn’t just a teacher. He is a Marine Corps reservist who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
An education in CTE can run the gamut, including biomedical work, culinary arts, agriculture and skilled trades.
“We’re giving students life skills that they wouldn’t necessarily get at school. One day, they may learn to pour concrete. They may never work in concrete as a career, but it will come in handy if they ever want to put a fence around their home. We’re giving them life skills,” Miciotto said.
As a child, Miciotto spent his summers and free time at his grandfather’s farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He credits this time for his love of agriculture and agribusiness.
Not only do Miciotto’s students learn in the classroom, his program encourages them to contribute to the community.
“We give our students numerous chances to be involved with the community. We’ve built raised beds for Burlington Homes, helped with the farm bureau’s ‘Homegrown in the Park’ event, and even have a fundraiser selling plants that we’ve grown in the greenhouse,” he said.
For those interested, the plant sale will be at Western High School on April 22.
