David Hanke is already more than empowered to teach his STEAM classes at Riverside’s Hauser Junior High. STEAM, by the way, stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.
That’s thanks to 12 years working at the Field Museum in Chicago. But he’ll be a changed man come this fall, changed for the betterment of his students, and himself.
Hanke was named this spring to the Teacher Innovator Institute 2025 Cohort, one of 30 STEAM teachers throughout the country so honored, and will spend July 6-18 at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. working with mentors to develop lessons and activities he can use in the fall.
Additionally, he will return to the Smithsonian as a mentor in 2026 for STEAM teachers that are selected that year for the program.
“I only have the kids for one trimester,” Hanke said. “I don’t have the luxury to have the whole school year with the kids and I think the things I can do and learn from this program, I want them to have more hands-on building experience, because it’s so different than being behind the Chrome Book.”
Hanke, whose undergraduate degree is in biology and the fine arts, spent almost 12 years at the Field Museum in Chicago, working in the replication shop building cases and props to supplement the actual historical artifacts. After some soul-searching career-wise, he went back to Benedictine University in Lisle and got his teaching certification and taught at De La Salle and Waubonsie Valley high schools before landing at Hauser.
One day, he was scrolling through social media and happened upon an advertisement for the Teacher Innovator Institute, and decided to apply, which was a task in itself. He had to create a video that talked about his teaching philosophy and the classes he teaches, along with clips from students talking about how valuable their experience was with him.
Truth be told, he didn’t think he was going to be selected.
But he was, much to his delight and that of Dr. Martha Ryan-Toye, District 96 superintendent.
And much to the benefit of Hauser students this fall.
“Our STEAM program is unique in that (it) is very student-driven, student ownership of their own learning,” she said. “David has a lot of responsibility for his own curriculum and strategies and big ideas, so it’s really important for him to go out to the Cohort and connect with other STEAM teachers.”
Hanke, who visited the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum with Hauser’s eighth graders last year, said his teaching philosophy is “really based on the engineering design process.
“What I want kids to get out of my class is failure is okay and often encouraged,” said Hanke, whose daughter, Amber, is a para-professional at Hauser. “I want them to be invested in the program. I’m here to guide and facilitate the program.
“I see myself as a guide more than a teacher.”
In a way, his ambition is a guide for other teachers, and not only in District 96. Why should they consider putting themselves out there for programs like the Teacher Innovator Institute 2025 Cohort?
“I love to learn new things all the time, and for teachers to be engaged with young people, they have to look for things that are new, cutting edge,” he said. “I want to be able to press myself into challenges. I think the kids appreciate that.”
So does Ryan-Toye.
“It’s a big honor,” she said. “It’s national, it’s through the Smithsonian, it’s something he really went after and I just appreciate that.
“It was innovative of him to go out and professionally learn and grow.”
