In connection with National Teacher Appreciation Week, swark.today salutes our area teachers and offers profiles of several who have made essential contributions to bringing our youngsters along toward bright futures and greater control of their lives.
Newly-named 2026 Teacher of the Year for Nevada County, Drake Givens, said the recognition, which took place at last week's Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Banquet, brought a mix of pride and perspective, with his thoughts turning quickly to those behind his achieving the honor.
“Well, obviously, I was very proud, and not necessarily of myself, but also of my students and kids,” and explaining that “everything that we’ve done that made me stand out was because they wanted to do it. They’re the ones that are eager to learn and do all the stuff." He described his reaction in the moment overall as “very happy, excited, but really rewarding.”
Givens, who teaches agricultural education at Nevada Public Schools, pointed to the rapid growth of the program during his tenure as the driving force behind the recognition, growth that is reflected in enrollment numbers that have climbed steadily since his arrival, with 64 students in the 2023–24 school year, 102 the following year, and 124 students this year, while FFA membership has followed a similar trajectory, as he noted, “Our membership growth like FFA, membership went from 24 to 54.”
Meanwhile, student participation in livestock showing has expanded as well, Givens said. “We started off two kids showing a handful, about four or five pigs. This year, we’re gonna have 14 kids showing.”
Central to that growth, Givens said, is the range of coursework offered and the practical nature of the instruction, as he explained that he teaches students from eighth through twelfth grade. “I’ll teach the introduction course, which is just a little bit of everything; plant science, animal science, mechanics, ag business."
More advanced pathways develop from there, Givens explained. “My main two pathways are animal science and then the agri technology and mechanics, which is the shop classes.”
Within those shop-based courses, students are introduced to a broad set of technical skills. Givens said, “We’ll spend a few weeks doing woodworking, carpentry, plumbing, small gas engines, electricity.” After that, “we’ll hit or scratch the surface of pretty much anything,” while advanced students move into more focused work. "We offer ag metals, which is pretty much just welding and fabrication and ag structures, and it’s purely carpentry.”
Givens makes clear that the instruction extends beyond career pathways into everyday life skills: “These kids can now change the light switch in their house,” and adding that it is “just simply little things like that that people don’t know how to do,” while also connecting directly to workforce needs. “You’ll use these skills there as well that will be greatly in demand.”
Facility improvements have also played a significant role in the program’s development, including the addition of a new animal science facility constructed with heavy student involvement, as Givens explained. “We built a new animal science facility on top of the hill up there. We designed it in the animal science classes. And then my shop classes actually built it,” with students handling multiple phases of the project. “The kids ran the electricity, did the plumbing in the building. That structure behind it was completely built by students.”
Student projects have also translated into competitive success across the state, including one ag mechanics project in which students constructed a smoker mounted on a trailer, which called for significant time and effort. “Each of them had over 600 hours invested in it,” with the results reflecting that work.
“They won every place we went, first in class, grand champion in division, and 16 banners and buckles,” he said, while students have also competed in a range of Career Development Events. “We do CDE events: mechanics team, electricity, poultry judging, horse judging." Givens also mentioned Paxtyn Tolar's grill project, which she took charge of. "She won our area with that, and then won the state contest with it.”
Beyond competition, Givens pointed to the broader impact of the program in preparing students for postsecondary paths and careers. "I’ve got a student that went from here last year to doing pre Veterinary Science,” while adding that others have entered the workforce directly. Their readiness from graduation day, Givens said, is because as they take the classes and compete with other students in the state “they’re also learning leadership skills, communication skills, employability skills that will help them anywhere.”
Looking ahead, Givens said his focus remains on continuing to build what has been established at Nevada: “I really, really like it here, and I plan to stay, keep doing what we’re doing, keep building. I like to call this place home.”
