Flagler Technical College Teacher of the Year: Bruce Winters

A decade after graduating from FTC, Winters is the school’s Teacher of the Year.

By Jonathan Simmons
| 4:00 a.m. December 31, 2023

Bruce Winters, Flagler Technical College Teacher of the Year. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Palm Coast Observer
Schools

In 2013, Bruce Winters earned his commercial vehicle license from Flagler Technical College. A decade later, he's FTC's Teacher of the Year.

"As a graduate of the program I teach, I am inspired by the impact Career and Technical Education can have, not only on the student but on the community as a whole," he wrote in his Teacher of the Year application.

After he graduated, Winters delivered freight until 2017, driving more than 650,000 accident-free, ticket-free miles before spending a year in administration, according to his Teacher of the Year application.

Every day, I have the opportunity to help my students enter into a new career, with the economic stability, pride and self-reliance that comes along with it."
— BRUCE WINTERS, Flagler Technical College Teacher of the Year

He was hired at FTC in 2018 as a part-time instructor and became the college's CVD program facilitator in 2020. This year, he is the school's regular CVD instructor. He has also served as a third-party CDL tester through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' third-party testing program since 2020.

"Every day, I have the opportunity to help my students enter into a new career, with the economic stability, pride and self-reliance that comes along with it," Winters wrote in his Teacher of the Year application. "They become a benefit to their communities and families by becoming more productive and less likely to fall victim to the cycle of poverty, low self-esteem and bad decisions."

Commercial driving has an unlimited future, he wrote, and his program completion rates over the last three years show a high success rate, with all but a very few students earning licensure and graduating to get jobs.

My students will be able to provide for their families, not just for today but for as long as they want."
— BRUCE WINTERS, Flagler Technical College Teacher of the Year

"My students will be able to provide for their families, not just for today but for as long as they want," he wrote. "This is a life changing event for many of them, and it is inspiring to give back to the community, families, and students in a meaningful way."

author

Jonathan Simmons

Jonathan Simmons is the managing editor of the Palm Coast Observer. He joined the Observer in 2013 as a staff writer and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida International University and a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern studies from Florida State University.