Thomas Chandler is this year’s winner of the NACAT New Teacher Award. He teaches at Laurens District 55 High School, Laurens, S.C. was the recipient of the 2008 Gates Corporation NACAT Conference Scholarship. Thomas has an impressive resume with more than thirty years in the automotive repair business; he has earned ASE certifications in 24 areas including truck and auto body.

Thomas inherited a program that was ailing; his efforts turned it into an up-to-date, modern automotive technology curriculum that teaches students how to properly repair cars, but also helps them develop appropriate work ethics, and other expectations of today's quality employers.

In his first year of teaching he took the initiative to get his high school automotive technology program nationally certified by NATEF. His high school became one of only two comprehensive high schools with a NATEF-certified automotive program in South Carolina.

Thomas is a master teacher and has received his district’s Teacher of the Year Award, as well as his school’ s Teacher of the Year Award.