Craig Hanzel

Craig Hanzel has been teaching for fifteen years and has been using BRI resources in his classroom for most of that time, having attended his first BRI seminar in 2006. “BRI is my favorite professional development opportunity of the school year. I always walk away with new content knowledge, ready-to-use lessons and thorough instructional strategies that can easily be lent to my varied classes.”

Relevancy is key, according to Craig, in working with high school students and finding new ways to unite them around a common goal. He is always looking for innovative strategies to bring this concept to life for his students. He not only teaches public policy, but also shows students how it plays out in the real world by taking his seniors to the county courthouse so they can job-shadow in various departments.

Craig is lucky to share his passion for teaching government and U.S. history with his wife, Laura, who also teaches social studies at Atchison High. Laura and Craig often attend seminars together, and are able to share ideas for new lesson plans and teaching strategies with each other.

In addition to his responsibilities as a teacher, husband, and father of four, Craig also finds time to teach karate at the local YMCA, serve as an adjunct professor at Benedictine College, and mentor new teachers in his district.