“It’s never a boring job, and every day is a new adventure.”
And, for Mr. Zak Dray, that’s by design.
Born with a daring spirit and a drive towards steady progress, Zak has worked across the country and the globe, teaching in River Valley, Edgerton, Las Vegas, Boscobel, Janesville, Richland Center, Hillsboro, and the Marshall Islands.
Mr. Dray was welcomed back to our district this Fall, after two years teaching on a military base on the Marshall Islands (located halfway between Japan and Hawaii). Bringing a beloved teacher back to the district was an obvious choice for school administration, and returning was an easy decision for Mr. Dray. “I’m in Hillsboro because of the people here. I’ve never felt as appreciated and valued by colleagues, students, and families.”
Zak first felt the pull towards education during his graduate studies, when he was working on his PhD in Chemistry. He had taken a job teaching undergraduate labs and mini-lectures to support himself, and noticed that he felt more drawn to teaching than to researching. Not so long after, he’d transferred to UW-La Crosse to get his Master’s in Education, and the rest, as they say, is history.
But Mr. Dray’s history is characteristically bold. While Zak’s earliest memories of teaching appear to be like those of most educators, equal parts whimsy and wincing, his are imbued with a signature joie de vivre. Zak recalls the untranslatable joy of his first snow day, “I remember the first time I got the snow day call as an educator, literally standing up and dancing on the bed.” There was also, of course, the early-on incident of “accidentally shattering a plastic meter stick that flew out towards my class like shrapnel.” No students were harmed, but the explosive nature of the incident keeps it fresh in his memory.
Never satisfied with stasis, Mr. Dray continues to push himself to strengthen his educational practices. “I’m currently working on developing my skills as a modeling teacher in science. Modeling is a more engaging, hands-on way of getting kids to do science, not just learn it.” His commitment to his professional development includes a throughline from his calling as a teacher, “In the next five years, I’d like to start presenting at conferences, sharing what I’ve learned with other educators.”
Like most parents, the idea of “spare time” for “hobbies” outside of work seems mostly like a philosophical exercise, but Zak Dray spends his free moments with his family, attending his children's events, and raising two 4-month-old black lab puppies. To blow off steam, he enjoys weight-training, swimming, and jiu-jitsu. He also has a deep love of reading.
When asked what made our district unique, Zak said, “This district isn’t afraid to try something new. Hillsboro is focused on results: if we can do better, we will.”
Thanks to Mr. Dray for his willingness to share his story with us.
Photo Credit: Gem Elmer