Corey Duzan named Illinois Drafting Teacher of the Year

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Corey Duzan of Neuqua Valley High School was named the Illinois Drafting Teacher of the Year. | Submitted

Updated: March 6, 2012 8:06AM

Corey Duzan, a teacher at Neuqua Valley High School, has been named the Illinois Drafting Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Drafting Educators Association. Since 1989, the award has been presented annually to a teacher who demonstrates excellence in drafting education.

“I was really shocked (to win this award) because I know a lot of people in this field,” said Duzan, 31. “Illinois has a lot of great programs just like ours, and there are a lot of great teachers. I was very excited to represent District 204 and especially Neuqua Valley High School.”

Founded in 1957, the Illinois Drafting Educators Association is a nonprofit professional education organization, whose mission is to “advance the drafting occupation through better education.” Each year, a committee reviews nominations of top drafting educators from around the state for this award.

Neuqua Valley High School teacher Lisa Traut said the announcement is a confirmation of what many colleagues and students already know about Duzan.

“It affirms to his colleagues and to our school that he is an outstanding teacher and is very dedicated to the teaching profession,” said Traut, chairperson of the technology and engineering department. “He is always going above and beyond, and always puts students first in everything he does. He’s an outstanding leader, and advocate for the technology and engineering education field.”

One example of Duzan’s leadership is the key role he played in bringing Project Lead the Way to District 204. Project Lead the Way is a pre-engineering program that merges theory with practical application, and is part of a local, state and national effort to bring a focus to the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

“Corey was involved with Project Lead the Way from the start,” Traut said. “It’s an important program because it introduces students to the field of engineering before they get to the college level. We are able to give students a taste of what engineering is all about — before they make the big decision to major in it in college.

“Along with preparing them for engineering, this program also teaches students valuable skills they can use during high school, college and in life.”

Duzan said the skills they are teaching are critical for today’s students to be globally competitive.

“We are trying to prepare our kids to have a skill set, whether it is in design, drafting, architecture, civil engineering or digital electronics,” he said. “Everything we teach in this department is about how to apply the things they have learned. We talk a lot about theory, and now we are taking that theory and showing kids how to apply it. That’s what is so exciting, and the kids are responding as we thought they would.”

The teacher said he appreciates being recognized for his efforts, but credits a team for the work he does at Neuqua Valley.

“The most rewarding thing for me is when the kids who graduate come back and tell us how prepared they were for college,” he said. “It all boils down to the leadership and the teachers we have here. They are always looking for the best for the kids, and are always trying to improve themselves. We are sending our kids from here prepared.

“We truly have a great school here, and I am proud to be a part of it.”