Meet Festo Didactic’s Instructor of the Year: Henrietta Jutson

Henrietta Jutson is an Integrated Systems Technology (IST) teacher at Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina and a Festo NC3 Master Instructor. In August 2024, Ms. Jutson was selected as the inaugural recipient for Festo Didactic’s Instructor of the Year Award.

For 34 years, Henrietta Jutson has been teaching Cumberland County students how to create a better future for themselves and their communities by acquiring in-demand technical skills. Ms. Jutson is well-known and appreciated for being a hands-on teacher and for helping students make important connections inside and outside of the classroom. She even has a bus driver license to take students on field trips.

In the classroom, she incorporates hydraulics, pneumatics, and electrical components in daily hands-on learning. As a local course option, Ms. Jutson has been able to develop and customize the curriculum. The course is part of the Integrated Systems Technology Academy of Engineering, a STEM-based program that prepares students for engineering and related fields. The curriculum has been developed to meet industrial workforce needs and prepare students for local community college curriculum.

“I’ve always believed in the importance of practical learning. By exposing students to real-world equipment and projects, I hope to inspire them to pursue engineering or related fields. Whenever I can, I take students on field trips to give them a glimpse into the world of engineering and manufacturing.” Ms. Jutson said.

Ms. Jutson tasks students with identifying and solving real-world STEM challenges and has them present their projects to parents and members of the local business community. Her high school seniors choose entry-level engineering job problems to solve and present to a local plant manager, engineers, and human resource managers.

“Currently, we’re working on electrical resistance, and I’m teaching them how to calculate resistors. While they could easily find this information online, I believe there’s value in learning these skills the old-fashioned way. It’s about understanding the fundamentals and developing a practical knowledge base,” Ms. Jutson explained.

Ms. Jutson is also a long-time Festo NC3 Master Instructor. As an Industry 4.0 certified instructor, she introduces students to basic I4.0 concepts through Festo’s Industry 4.0 Certification Program (FICP), which consists of four certification levels.

“As an NC3 Master Instructor, I’ve had the opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and certifications. I’ve incorporated these into my curriculum to ensure that my students are prepared to meet the demands of the modern workforce.” Ms. Jutson added.

In addition to teaching at Jack Britt High School, Ms. Jutson is involved in various professional development activities including leading workshops for teachers and mentoring students who want to participate in SkillsUSA mechatronics competitions.

Upon receiving the Festo Didactic Instructor of the Year Award, Ms. Jutson said, “One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is witnessing students’ excitement and enthusiasm when they grasp a new concept. Whether it’s calculating electrical resistance or learning how to read a meter, their eagerness to learn is contagious. It’s a privilege to share my knowledge and help them develop practical skills that I hope will benefit them throughout their lives.”