This Marlborough vocational school teacher is up for a top national award

MARLBOROUGH — Once you learn what got Derek Dagesse into teaching, it makes sense that one day he would be nominated for an award that recognizes dedication to students.

In 2010, Dagesse was running a heating, ventilation and air conditioning business when the high school from which he graduated, Bristol-Plymouth Regional High School in Taunton, called for help. None of its three HVAC teachers was returning for the fall, creating a huge vacancy in the program.

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Dagesse had been a model student, ranking third in his 2001 graduating class, competing in national SkillsUSA competitions and starting his business after graduating. He was also serving as a professional adviser with the school's HVAC program, helping students and staff by providing insight into real-world working experiences.

So with the school in a tough spot, Dagesse agreed to give teaching a try.

"We had a three-teacher shop — I was the only teacher, we had two aides, we had a really hard time finding other teachers," he said. "I went in and did what I could and just learned as I went."

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More than a decade later, Dagesse, now at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, was named a finalist for the national Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence earlier this year. He's one of 50 finalists among nearly 800 applicants for the award, which recognizes outstanding teachers in trade and technical high school programs.

$100K prize

Dagesse is the only instructor from Massachusetts nominated, and one of two who teach HVAC.

Winners will receive $100,000 from Harbor Freight Tools, a retailer of tools and equipment. Prize money can be invested in the trade program at the winning teacher's school. A portion can be kept by the teacher, although Dagesse said he wouldn't take any of it.

"I don't want the money, I didn't get into this for money. Let's throw it all into the school," he said. "We are looking at replacing some of our old tools; a lot of things, like copper wire, we go through that stuff really fast and it's expensive. Our budget can get eaten up really quick."

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When Dagesse applied for the award, he highlighted the achievements of his students. That comes as no surprise to Assabet Principal Mark Hollick, who said Dagesse's efforts to improve his students's lives are a strong example of what the school seeks to provide.

"Derek has done an excellent job in promoting the school and looking for additional funding for tools and equipment for the students," said Hollick, himself an Assabet graduate. "Assabet is a great school because of the dedicated staff and students that are focused on learning. We are very proud of Derek going the extra mile for his students and hope that he receives the recognition he has earned."

Dagesse, who runs Assabet's HVAC program with fellow teachers Mike Gilchrist and Paul Durand, said he jumped at the chance to teach at the school where he started last year.

"Assabet has a reputation as one of the best vocational schools in the state, so even though it's a bit of a hike for me, this is an optimal location to teach," Dagesse said.

While he originally got into teaching to help out his old school, Dagesse has continued that above-and-beyond spirit after moving to Assabet.

'Old stuff is what we want'

During his free time, he is known to surf through Facebook Marketplace, looking for old and broken refrigerators to pick up and bring to the school for students to work with. And when a Chinese restaurant near his Raynham home was being converted to a Taco Bell, Dagesse was able to grab several old commercial refrigerators; they now sit, newly restored by students, in his Assabet workshop.

"I'll see people throwing things out, or looking to get something for short money that is broken, and I'll reach out and ask them if that instead of selling it, they would be interested in donating to the school," Dagesse said. "The old stuff is what we want; the new stuff that works, that isn't nearly as good. The troubleshooting stuff, what we are trying to teach kids, we need the old, broken units to do that."

Dagesse said he first wanted to pursue carpentry when attending school, but later became attracted to the variety of skills that HVAC students learn.

"When I talk to students now, I sell them on how we do a little bit of everything, we do some piping, we do some electrical, we do sheet metal," he said. "You aren't just doing wood every day, or just working with pipes."

HVAC, like many trades, has seen interest boom. Dagesse said there's high demand for students working in trades, especially as older generations retire, and that companies are constantly looking at current students and recent graduates to put to work.

"There is a huge variety of potential careers with HVAC students — 15 of our 16 juniors have been hired for co-op jobs this year," Dagesse said. "A lot of kids come in here with the intent of going straight into the trades, and that is the beauty of vocational education, getting that step up."

He said the most rewarding aspect of teaching is the success of his students.

"My favorite thing about the job is seeing kids go out there and make a life for themselves," Dagesse said. "Earning money, getting paid, it's a great career. Seeing them buy houses a few years after graduation; you come to this without a nickel in your pocket and if you put the work in, you can find success."

Award winners will be announced in October.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Marlborough vocational teacher finalist for top Harbor Freight award