FLATE awards have served as an effective tool in recognizing
educators and industry colleagues who have stepped beyond their call of duty to
promote excellence in manufacturing and STEM education. At the secondary and
post-secondary education level, FLATE Awards recognize excellence in teaching
in a Florida High School in a program that supports the Manufacturing industry
in Florida. In addition to teaching excellence, the awardee is expected to work
personally with his/her students and with local industry partners for
continuous improvement of the academic program, keeping it closely tied to
industry needs.
This year marks the eighth year for the FLATE Educator award
program. The awards serve as a mark
of recognition for educators like Russ
Henderlite who has been a strong supporter of Manufacturing Education and
outreach at the secondary education level. Henderlite is the recipient of the
2014 FLATE secondary educator of the year award and was chosen from a pool of qualified and dedicated colleagues who were nominated for the award. “Manufacturing education
is critical to provide a skilled workforce to continue our nation’s ability to
compete in a global market” said Henderlite. He is the founding instructor for
the robotics and advanced manufacturing academy at Frank H. Peterson Academies
of Technology (FHP) in Jacksonville, FL.
Prior to becoming a high school teacher, Henderlite spent 20 years
in the U.S. Navy involved in nuclear power plant operations and maintenance.
During his tenure with the navy, first as a nuclear prototype instructor, then as
a nuclear repair coordinator he encountered first-hand, students' lack of knowledge in performing routine and corrective maintenance operations. These
experiences influenced his decision to become a teacher when he retired from
the Navy and provided an understanding of many weak areas students have when
they join the workforce.
Henderlite's 18 years of teaching experience is focused primarily on
imbibing hands-on skills and trouble-shooting techniques. “I constantly challenge my students to think not only about what they are doing, but why they are doing it, and what the end result will be.” He also works very
closely with local manufacturers which has enabled him to
concentrate on filling the skills-gap faced by local manufacturers, and helping
students develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving ability and improved
communication skills. Henderlite also strongly encourages local manufacturers to offer
internship programs so students can gain a real-world knowledge and
understanding of manufacturing processes.
As an educator Henderlite has made several outstanding
contributions to manufacturing and/or
engineering education at the local and
statewide level. To promote interest in manufacturing, he identified current
technologies for acquisition such as 3D printing and robotics equipment to
excite and attract FHP students to manufacturing careers and educational
pathways. He also partnered with Florida State College at Jacksonville to
develop a welding program for training students under the Florida Trade Grant
to meet needs of business partners like BAE Systems, Kaman Aerospace and other
manufacturers located in Florida First Coast region. He is a member of the
First Coast Manufacturers Association (FCMA) Workforce Development Committee
for the past two years, and has played an active role in Manufacturing Day in
Florida tours both in 2013 and ’14 where he took 180 students (80 in 2013; 100
in 2014) on industry tours of Vistakon, SAFT Batteries, Boeing and Gerdau
Ameristeel. Henderlite has also established FHP as an MSSC testing center and recently served as a member of the career academy best practices panel member along with
two FHP students at the Florida STEM Forum.
Indeed, FLATE Awardees have distinguished credentials that they have used to promote excellence in manufacturing on a statewide level. Award winners were selected from submitted nominations from
around the state. They are judged by an awards committee from FLATE's Industrial Advisory Committee and not the FLATE
leadership team, or staff. Awardees will be recognized and bestowed with their Award during the Annual Manufacturers' Association of Florida (MAF) Summit
taking place December 3-5, 2014 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in
Destin.
For more information on the robotics and automation program at F.H. Peterson Academies of Technology in Jacksonville, email Russ Henderlite at henderlitr@duvalschools.org, or visit http://dcpspublic.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage/689666.
For more information on the FLATE awards program and to view this year’s nominees, or
earmark a colleague for next year’s awards visit http://fl-ate.org/projects/awards.html, or
contact Dr. Marilyn Barger, executive director of FLATE at barger@fl-ate.org.
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