Technology teacher recognized for service to students, schools

mizer.JPGPaul Mizer was named the 2011-2012 Technology Teacher of the Year by the Central New York Technology and Engineering Educators Association. He has been teaching for about 25 years.

Editorial assistant Nariman Jiries interviewed Paul Mizer, who has been named the 2011-2012 Technology Teacher of the Year by the Central New York Technology and Engineering Educators’ Association.

Name: Paul Mizer

Age: 48

Where do you live? Syracuse

How long have you lived there? 24 years

Tell me about your family: I have a very supportive wife and a 16-year-old daughter.

Educational background: A bachelor’s degree and a master’s from SUNY Oswego.

Occupation: Technology education teacher

How long have you been teaching? 25 years give or take (I have lost track.)

Why did you choose a career in teaching? I chose teaching as a career for two reasons. The first, both of my parents were teachers: My father was a junior high English teacher and my mother was a college professor. They both had other careers in the military before they entered the field of education and were passionate about their occupation. Second, I thought my high school industrial arts teacher had the greatest job in the world. He got to build things every day with kids. After observing him, I knew this is what I wanted to do.

What do you like best about your job? Two things: the kids and the cool toys I get to play with every day.

What program were you recognized for contributing to? I was recognized for my contributions to the C.W. Baker High School Technology Education Department.

Can you describe what Project Lead the Way is? PLTW is a college preparation pre-engineering program. It puts kids through the rigors of engineering and allows them to earn college credit while still in high school.

How did you feel when you found out that you had been named Teacher of the Year? I felt proud that my peers recognize how much time and energy I put into the kids and the program.

What other educational positions are you involved in? I have coached the junior varsity girls lacrosse team for the last four years and have been the ski club adviser for 20 years, co-adviser to the Electrothon race team and a member of lots of school committees.

Do you have a proudest moment? Every year I have a proudest moment. Annually we host our Technology Festival at school where the seniors present their capstone projects. I am always amazed at how proud they are of their accomplishments. They finally get to show off a solution to a problem they spent six months trying to solve.

What do you do in your spare time? I love cabinet making and hunting. I built most of the furniture in my house. I try to combine my passion for both, so I have learned to make wooden box calls to call wild turkeys. I build a box call for every kid who hunts in my class. Last year I gave away about eight box calls, including three to girls.

Describe your personality: Patient and persistent.

What is your key philosophy in life? I believe it really does not matter how smart you are, but how hard you are willing to work.

What is your biggest accomplishment in life so far? Being happily married for 23 years and watching my daughter grow up.

What kind of books do you like to read? Adirondack folklore.

What advice do you give to students about receiving an education? It really doesn’t matter what you major in while in college; the important thing is you get your degree. Your degree will open doors for you that won’t be there if you didn’t have it.

What is the best advice you ever heard? No is not an acceptable answer.

What are you passionate about? My passion in life is lacrosse. I have been playing since I was 14 and still play in the summer four nights a week. All the important lessons in life, like teamwork, goal-setting and self sacrifice, I learned on the lacrosse field.

What is the one thing you hope your students will always remember from your class? I would hope they take away a skill that they can use for the rest of their lives.