Six New Jersey teachers each received a $10,000 award for outstanding technology education, and five of them hail from TCNJ.
The 2010 Innovative Technology Educator Awards rewarded the achievements of Pete Grandinetti ’72, Michael Jeskey ’91, Jason Mariano ’98, Steven Mett ’00, and Purvik Patel ’08, all TCNJ graduates. The selection demonstrates the College’s long legacy of quality educator training—the honorees attended as early as the 1960s and as late as 2008.
Grandinetti received a BS and MEd in industrial education and technology from the College and began teaching in 1972. After successful careers in both education and business, he was appointed supervisor of technology, business, and consumer sales at Red Bank Regional High School in 2004. He has since helped develop new courses, an Academy of Engineering, what has been named a 5 Star Program by the New Jersey Technology Education Association (NJTEA), and a Program of Excellence by Project Lead the Way.
Jeskey, who graduated with a degree in technology education, began teaching middle school technology education in Denville and helped transition the program there to a traditional industrial arts program. He currently teaches in Livingston and has served as an educator, departmental mentor, and track and cross-country coach.
Mariano received his first degree from the College in 1998 and is currently pursuing his third degree, from Farleigh Dickenson University. He teaches architecture, CADD, robotics, and design and technology at Chatham High School.
Mett has taught high school-level TV production and photography in Lenape and Rutherford. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in educational technology.
Patel teaches woodworking, CAD, and engineering at Northern Highlands Regional High School. He also advises a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge team and serves as the technical director for his school’s winter musical. During his time at TCNJ, he gained valuable experience working as a carpenter and CAD director for construction companies in Hoboken.
The Innovative Technology Educator Awards are granted annually by the NJTEA and are sponsored by the Martinson Family Foundation.