Schools
Award-Winning Teacher Brings Real-World Skills Into Lake Co. Classrooms
Bryan Henley's classes blend robotics, technology and real-world problem solving to keep middle school students engaged.
Bryan Henley, a teacher at Peter J. Palombi Middle School in Lake Villa, has become a student favorite for his hands-on classes in robotics, graphic design and STEM.
Henley, who was named Lake County Educator of the Year in 2025, focuses on lessons that connect classroom learning with real-world skills. His classes include projects such as building and programming robotics and even repairing school Chromebooks, giving students practical technical experience.
School leaders say his innovative approach helps students apply what they learn while encouraging creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.
Find out what's happening in Grayslakefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
