Golden Apple: Weston Berndt

The Golden Apple Awards honor those shaping student success and our region’s future through excellence in education.

Eight award recipients will be recognized April 22 at the Golden Apple Awards event, and will also be featured in stories in the Press Times each week leading up to the event.

This week, get to know Golden Apple Award recipient Weston Berndt.

Weston Berndt, a technology education teacher at Preble High School, earned his degree from UW – Stout while gaining experience at Robinson Metals in the summers. Berndt has taught for 18 years, with 11 of those being in his current position. There are two things that he believes helped him be successful: his first-hand experience in the manufacturing industry and his mentors and family.

To Berndt, maintaining a connection to the trades is key to being a good tech ed teacher.

“Working in manufacturing gave me firsthand insight into the expectations of the workplace. It reinforced the importance of punctuality, accountability, pride in workmanship and the ability to work through challenges. These are the same values I now emphasize with my students because I know they are critical for success in the skilled trades,” said Berndt. “Throughout my career, I have remained connected to industry by attending conferences such as FABTECH in Chicago. Staying connected to industry ensures that what I teach in the classroom is relevant and aligned with what employers expect.”

Learning from other educators also played a role in Berndt’s success as a teacher.

“Experienced educators took the time to share ideas, answer questions, and help guide me through the challenges of the profession. Their willingness to help shaped how I approach collaboration today,” Berndt explained. Some of these mentors included family members. “I come from a long line of educators, so teaching has always been a part of my life. My mother was a teacher, and both of my grandfathers were educators as well.”

His biggest role model was his mother.

“As a teacher, she modeled what it means to truly care about students and invest in their success,” Berndt said. “Watching her dedication to her students showed me that teaching is more than delivering content — it’s about building relationships and helping young people believe in themselves. Her example helped shape my own approach to education. I strive to be the kind of teacher who supports students both inside and outside the classroom, whether that means helping them improve their skills in the shop or showing up to support them at events like games or competitions. That level of commitment is something I learned by watching her.”

Berndt has taken these experiences and applied them to his classroom, making for a unique mindset and workspace.

“My classroom operates much like a professional shop environment where expectations are high, but students are supported and encouraged to improve every day,” he said. “I emphasize work ethic, grit, and pride in craftsmanship. Students learn that the skilled trades require perseverance and a “can-do” attitude. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and success often comes after multiple attempts. I remind students that it’s not about where you start — it’s about where you finish. Another unique aspect of my classroom is the balance between structure and energy. I bring enthusiasm into the shop every day because students feed off the energy of their instructor.”

Berndt hopes his students learn the importance of showing up and working hard. But “more than anything, I hope my students leave my classroom with confidence in themselves and pride in their work. The technical skills they learn in welding and manufacturing are important, but the mindset they develop is even more valuable,” he explained.

To beginning teachers, Berndt’s advice is: “be authentic, build relationships, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”