Gifts for Vocational Teachers

Picking a gift for a vocational teacher

Vocational teachers usually came to the classroom from the trade itself, so they've often spent years as electricians, welders, machinists, cosmetologists or culinary cooks before they ever stood in front of a room. They know the difference between a clean cut and a sloppy one, and they've spent a lot of hours on their feet with safety glasses on and a lunch that got eaten standing up. A gift that acknowledges both halves of their life tends to land: a tee for the shop days, a hoodie for the cold morning drive to the campus, a mug for the coffee they drink while grading practical exams. The most personal option is to type their subject into a second line, like automotive, welding or culinary arts, so it's clearly theirs and not a generic teacher shirt. If you're buying for a whole department, the Team Shop can print one design with each instructor's name on their own shirt, which is a nice way to say thanks to people who spend their days turning students into workers.