Orchard Grad Named Technical Sciences Teacher Of Year

An Orchard graduate was named the 2​018 Outstanding Nebraska Skilled and Technical Sciences Educator of the Year on Tuesday.

David Shabram, a 1998 Orchard graduate and son of Monte and Rita Shabram, is an engineering & technology teacher at Westside Middle School in Omaha. Awards were presented by the Nebraska Department of Education for each career and technical education category at the Nebraska Career Education Conference in Kearney

After graduating from Orchard High School, he attended Wayne State College, earning his degree in Industrial and Technology Education. While at Wayne State College, he was actively involved in the Technology Education and Engineering Collegiate Association and the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA), serving as an undergraduate member on the ITEEA Student Leadership Committee.

Shabram was also awarded the ITEEA Outstanding Student Leadership Award in 2003. After graduating from Wayne State College in 2003, Shabram spent his first two years teaching middle school Technology Education in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With an urge to return home to Nebraska, he accepted a teaching position at Westside Middle School, his current position for the past 13 years. He also earned his Master's degree in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2010. As an advocate for Career and Technical Education, Shabram has been actively involved with professional teaching organizations throughout his career. He has served on multiple curriculum committees and task force groups for NDE, along with serving on the executive board for the Nebraska Association for Skilled and Technical Sciences Educators (NASTSE) for the past four years.

Shabram is also an active member of ITEEA, serving as Nebraska's Affiliate Representative, Co-Chair of the Member Involvement & Engagement Task Force, and is currently a candidate for the Region 3 Director position. David was awarded NASTSE's Program of the Year Award in 2013, ITEEA's Program Excellence Award in 2014 and earned ITEEA's Emerging Leader Distinction in April. Along with Career Education and Career Readiness, Shabram's passions included design thinking for problem solving and Learning by Doing.

Blane McCann, Superintendent of Westside Community Schools provided perspectives of the professionalism exhibited by Shabram.

“First, David is an excellent educator and was recently recognized by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association with their Emerging Leader Distinction," McCann said. "He is extremely knowledgeable and innovative as a classroom teacher, and led the implementation of Project Lead the Way that has greatly benefited our learners. David builds engaging and positive relationships with his students by being a SkillsUSA Adviser, robotics team sponsor, and athletic coach. Russ Olsen, Westside Middle School Principal added, “One of Mr. Shabram's skills is his passion for helping foster technological awareness for his students. David's experiences inside and outside of the classroom help make him a tremendous asset to his students.”