John Hendrix, a teacher at Portal Middle High School in Bulloch County, is Georgia’s STEM teacher of the year.
Both the East Georgia and the Georgia chapters of AFA have selected Hendrix as their top educator due to his outstanding contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math education. Laurie Orth, president of the East Georgia chapter, was present at the school on September 25 to present Hendrix with his awards, a $1,000 cash award, an embroidered jacket, and more AFA swag to celebrate. Hendrix will now have a two-year period in which he may apply to AFA’s National Teacher of the Year program.
“I’m really proud of these awards because it represents how far our program here at Portal has come and how we’ve built a program we can be proud of,” said Hendrix. “We’re giving our students exposure to a lot of fields that they may not normally have, especially in a rural school like Portal, especially our work with air flight and the Civil Air Patrol. Exposure to these engineering fields is important.”
Hendrix, who is a 2004 alumnus of Portal and he was the valedictorian and STAR student of his graduating class, is now Portal’s Engineering & Technology career pathway teacher. It is a program he launched at the school, and it’s the only program of its type in the school district for both middle and high school students. It’s fitting that his classroom and lab were once where his former STAR teacher and Georgia Agriculture Hall of Fame member, Tom Marshall, Ed.D, who retired in 2020, taught agriculture.
Hendrix currently has about 65 students in his program. Students engage in hands-on learning, exploring computer-aided design (CAD), coding, and aerospace principles, designing rockets and functional drone attachments. He emphasizes community engagement through an after-school club that participates in electric vehicle competitions and collaborates on various projects, including producing turpentine soap with the local heritage society. Looking ahead, he aims to expand metal casting capabilities, establish an E-nable chapter for 3D-printed prosthetics, and will partner with a local amateur radio club to create a HAM radio station, providing students with enriching STEM experiences.
Four of Hendrix’s students attended the International Cast Iron Expo in Atlanta in April. It is the premier trade show for the metal casting industry. The students competed in the Expo’s Casting Dreams contest, which challenges students to design and manufacture original cast metal pieces. One of the students, Talen Tankersley, advanced to the finals and earned honorable mention, placing him among the top ten student competitors in the nation.
Bulloch County Schools’ director of Career Technical & Agricultural Education, Bethany Gilliam, was present to congratulate Hendrix as well as Portal’s work-based learning coordinator, Joe Bettinger.
“Mr. Hendrix does a great job of providing hands-on activities for the students, and he’s always looking for ways to enhance the class,” said Gilliam. “Engineering can come in many different facets, and it is a high-demand area in our region, particularly electrical, civil, and manufacturing engineering sectors. Engineering teachers are very hard to come by, so we are so very thankful to have a great one here with us.”
Driven by curiosity and a passion for learning, Hendrix earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and ecology from the University of Georgia, and a master’s degree in science education from Georgia State University. He began his career as a research teacher at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, where he guided students in advanced environmental and engineering projects. These included developing antibacterial-resistant nitrogen-fixing bacteria, using metal nanoparticles for water desalination, and applying hydrocarbon-eating bacteria to break down crude oil. He introduced the first 3-D printer to the school, allowing students to create and test airfoil designs that led to presentations at various science symposiums.
According to the AFA, they believe that STEM teachers shape the future of our nation, introducing students to exciting new concepts and offering a glimpse into what is possible. The very best educators transform learning into a boundless adventure and prepare their classes to explore new frontiers of technology for the good of us all. Along with providing educator grants and scholarships for the Air and Space Forces and their family members, AFA believes in recognizing the commitment and achievements of extraordinary teachers. The AFA STEM Teacher of the Year program provides a platform for teacher recognition.
