Massillon teacher gets national teaching prize

MASSILLON, Ohio — A high school teacher in Massillon got a special surprise Tuesday morning.

Jason Werstler, a construction teacher at Massillon Washington High School, is one of 25 winners of the 2023 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. 

It came Tuesday morning at a surprise ceremony as Werstler and his high school were presented with a check for $50,000.

Washington High School received $35,000 and Werstler received $15,000 for excellence in skilled trades education.

Werstler is one of 25 teachers nationwide to win the award. In total, the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is awarding $1.5 million in prizes.

Jason Werstler teaches construction technologies at Washington High School. Before then, he taught math and science for 17 years before obtaining his technical teaching certification.

“He focuses on encouraging and empowering students along each step of the process, often letting them work independently or cooperatively in small groups. In the interest of continuous improvement, Werstler regularly asks his students for feedback on his instruction, letting them share with him just as much as he does with them,” a news release said.

Werstler’s students put their skills to the test by competing in carpentry competitions at SkillsUSA, and by building a house in a nearby neighborhood with Habitat for Humanity each year.

Werstler obtained a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and a master’s degree in administration at Ashland University.

“I am most passionate about passing on my skills to my students, watching them experiment with different tools, hone their skills and seeing my students learn autonomously when given different tasks and put in unknown learning situations,” Werstler said in the news release.