At the recent annual conference for the Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania, Stephen Drake, technology education teacher at Northern Lehigh High School, was recognized as the high school teacher in the state to earn the prestigious Teacher Excellence Award.

Sponsored by the Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania and the International Technology Education Association, the Program Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to Technology Education classroom teachers on the elementary, middle or high school levels. It is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession and students. Teachers from all over the state of Pennsylvania compete for this honor yearly.Each year's Teachers Excellence winners are recognized at the awards banquet of the largest state conference for Technology Educators in the country. This year Drake was recognized at the first and second general session of the conference; as well as at the annual awards banquet where the award plaque was presented.Drake retired from his post as a teacher for the Northern Lehigh School District in June after 33 years teaching.