About Chris
Chris Hurd has taught for over 30 years in Cazenovia, NY; a small suburban community just outside Syracuse, and has a Masters Degree in Technology Education. One of the highlights of his career was being chosen as the 2016 PLTW Engineering Teacher of the Year
He is now retired, and living in CNY with his wife who is a retired teacher as well.
His former teaching load was primarily focused on Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Digital Electronics, Principles of Engineering, Engineering Design & Development, Architecture, and 8th Grade Computer Technology; most of which are offered through the Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering Program for transcripted college credit. In addition to the PLTW classes, Mr. Hurd was involved in coordinating and teaching several other Career and Technology electives which are offered for college credit and are aimed at students entering two and four year institutions in a Technology or Engineering related field.
For 19 years, Chris Hurd was a Master Teacher for Project Lead the Way on a national level. He is trained to teach Computer Integrated Manufacturing to other educators across the nation who will be offering PLTW’s CIM course in their high schools and colleges. He has participated as a Master Teacher at the Oregon Institute of Technology, the University of South Florida, Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, CalPoly Pomona, University of Kentucky, and the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. As a Master Teacher, Mr. Hurd also played an integral role in rewriting the curriculum for CIM that is being taught in high schools across the country.
As CTE department leader in Cazenovia, the Technology Department was chosen as “CNY Technology Department of the Year”, and he received the honor of CNY Teacher of the Year as well in 2010. In 2011, Cazenovia HS was also granted the prestigious “Model School“ award as well because of the success of their PLTW Pre-Engineering Program.
He now enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, golfing, traveling, and spending time with his family. He still answers CIM questions via email, helps maintain this website, and writes curriculum for robotics and CNC. (the fish in the picture below was released unharmed…)