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Pete Brannan is a former Navy tactical
jet reconnaissance navigator who flew 67 combat missions over
North Vietnam in 1972-73. Today he is a technology education
teacher who uses his skills to manage and teach -- and he
does it well. He takes on a wide variety of students and has
a long list of awards recognizing his efforts. He is now pursuing
a doctorate at UGA and giving presentations to his peers so
he can share the secrets to his success. He is the epitome
of the lifelong learner to his students.
Expected
graduation: May 2005
Degree Objective: Ed.D. in Occupational Studies
Other
degrees:
- M.C.M. (Masters in Church Music, vocal
& choral concentration), Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas (1980)
- B.S.Ed. (Industrial Arts), Georgia Southern
University (1969)
University highlights, achievements and awards:
Although having prepared for it as an undergraduate, Pete
came to teaching as a third career and has received numerous
accolades for his work. In 2003 he achieved Georgia’s
ITEA Technology Education Program Certification at Jonesboro
High School—one of only eleven TechEd programs to complete
this UGA authored process. He was recognized as an Atlanta
Journal-Constitution Honor Teacher Award community honoree
in both 2002 and 2003. He won the Radio Shack National Teacher
Award in 2002. In 1994, 1998, and 2002 he was named by students
to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He received
the International Technology Education Association (ITEA)
and Georgia Industrial Technology Education Association (GITEA)
Teacher Excellence Awards in 2001. Nominated by one of his
students, he received the United States Air Force Outstanding
Technology Education Teacher Award in 2001. He was named the
Albany High School Technology/Career Education Teacher of
the Year in 1998, Georgia Citizens Advisory Council on Energy
(CACE) Teacher of the Year in 1996, and the Georgia Principles
of Technology Teacher of the Year in 1993. Most recently,
he was named the Georgia Association of Career and Technology
Educators' 2004-05 Technology Education Teacher of the Year
and was again honored by his students as one of the 2004 United
States Air Force Outstanding Technology Education Teacher
recipients.
Current employment:
After teaching Technology Education for 10 years at Albany
High School in Dougherty County, I moved to Jonesboro High
School in Clayton County and just completed my sixth year
there. I am now teaching manufacturing (still TechEd) at Heritage
High School in Rockdale County. I am also very active in leading
workshops for Georgia's TechEd teachers and have made several
state, national, and international conference presentations.
I began teaching Technology Education in August 1988 at age
40. I enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve after high school
graduation and remained a reservist while attending college.
Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School followed college graduation,
and I spent eight years on active duty flying the RA-5C Vigilante
as a Naval Flight Officer. Feeling led to enter the ministry,
I continued my naval aviation career as a reservist, flying
the F-4N Phantom II, while completing my master’s degree
and retired as a Commander (0-5) in 1994, a career totaling
28½ years. I discovered soon after seminary graduation
that doing ministry bivocationally would permit me to simultaneously
pursue teaching, two careers that I enjoy greatly.
High School: Cross Keys High School (DeKalb
Co.)
Hometown: currently McDonough, Georgia.
I grew up in Doraville, Georgia.
I choose to attend UGA because...
...UGA has the highly regarded graduate program in Occupational
Studies that I need to improve my teaching skills. UGA has
the exceptional teaching faculty that I need to hone my learning
skills. UGA has an esteemed research faculty and significant
resources to turn my curiosity into new knowledge. My degree
in Occupational Studies will also equip me to more effectively
empower my technology education teacher colleagues around
the state.
When I have free time, I like...
...to spend time with family. I am blessed to be the eldest
of seven children. My mother and father are still living,
as are my two sisters, four brothers, and their families.
Our two sons, their wives, and our three grandchildren bring
great joy to me and my wife of almost 33 years. Once finished
with this degree, I want to help my grandson learn to fish.
The craziest thing I've done is...
...eaten whole bamboo bats during Navy jungle survival training.
My favorite place to study is...
...at my computer at home late in the evening. It is away
from the distractions and interruptions of work, and the phone
usually doesn't ring at home at that time.
My favorite professor is...
... Dr. John Schell in Occupational Studies. We are about
the same age. He is an exceptional teacher, gifted mentor,
all-around great guy, and my advisor and friend. I must also
mention Dr. Judith Preissle in Teacher Education, a superb
teacher who helped me to make meaning of research. She, too,
has become a mentor and a friend.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would
love to share it with...
...my high school drafting teacher, Jim Bray, a UGA graduate.
He was one of the people who influenced my decision to become
an industrial arts teacher. I'd like to explore what he saw
in me that led him to encourage me to be a teacher and compare
his teaching experience to mine.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to...
...own and fly my own airplane again. This would significantly
shorten the time required to travel to and from meetings,
visit family, and explore other places of interest.
After graduation, I plan to...
...continue teaching. I get great personal satisfaction from
knowing that I positively affect students and influence other
teachers.
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