Feb. 4, 2021 - A former Smithson Valley High School agriculture science teacher was awarded the KENS 5 Credit Human EXCEL Award for the Comal Independent School District. The award recognizes local public-school teachers for their innovative practices in the classroom and beyond.
Canaan Dreibrodt, who taught for six years before becoming an assistant principal this school year, was presented the award virtually with Sarah Forgany, a KENS 5 news anchor, his wife, Mollie, and colleagues on hand.
This honor tops off Dreibrodt’s teaching career. He was named the SVHS Campus Teacher of the Year last spring and the district’s secondary teacher of the year in December. Currently, he is serving as an assistant principal at Canyon Lake High School.
As an educator, Dreibrodt believes it is important to make connections with students and show them that they are cared for, something he did daily at SVHS. Along the way, he expanded the agriculture science program with a new animal facility, increased membership in the FFA organization, developed a program for incoming ninth-grade students to help them get involved, added industry-based certifications and provided opportunities for students to meet industry professionals and establish relationships with them.
“It’s our role, as teachers and educators, to make kids aware of their opportunities,” says Dreibrodt. “The success of my students, both during my time as their teacher and after they have graduated, is why I am an educator. If their life improves in any way because of my impact, I feel like I have done my job well.”
He found out how much he had impacted the Ranger community while battling a cancer diagnosis a year ago. His students, colleagues and the community rallied around him and his family as he continued to work while receiving radiation treatments.
He keeps a note he received from a student in his wallet as a reminder of all the support he received. The note simply says, “I’m thinking about you, and I’m praying for you.”
While the students and staff at SVHS miss seeing him in the hallways, they are happy that he is in good health and continuing to impact students.
Annually, one teacher from each of the 19 area public school districts is honored with a $1,000 check from Credit Human and is featured on KENS 5. Dreibrodt was featured on the news station at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. His story may be viewed here.
Congratulations!
-Pictured top row from left are a KENS 5 representative, KENS 5 journalist Sarah Forgany and a Credit Human representative; middle row, a Credit Human representative, Canaan and Mollie Dreibrodt and Smithson Valley High Principal Michael Wahl; bottom row, Comal ISD Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement & Elementary Education Krista Moffatt, Comal ISD Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement & Secondary Corbee Wunderlich and Comal ISD Superintendent Andrew Kim.
