February 18, 2025 - Canyon Lake High School students and staff filled the gymnasium to surprise one of their favorite teachers recently when KENS 5 presented the EXCEL Award to Garrett Schatte, who teaches agriculture mechanics and metal fabrication at the school.
In fact, KENS 5 anchor Sarah Forgany believes Schatte, who also serves as the career and technical education (CTE) department chair at CLHS and the FFA adviser, is the first CTE and agriculture teacher to be honored with the EXCEL Award in its 26 years.
Forgany along with Ramon Abarca and DeAnna Fling from Credit Human presented Schatte with the KENS 5 EXCEL Award and a check for $2,000 in front of his students and colleagues, as well as in front of his family including his wife, Kellie, who is a campus instructional coach at Canyon High School, his daughter, Kallaway, a first-grade student at Goodwin Fraizer Elementary and his parents who are the reason he became an educator.
“My journey to become a teacher began at a very young age,” says Schatte, who was named the CLHS Campus Teacher of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. “I was lucky enough to be born in the family of two Ag teachers. I got to see how they were able to positively impact so many students’ lives which is something I really enjoy.”
It is no surprise that for 13 years, he has been doing just that – positively impacting the lives of students. When asked to choose a single word to describe him, students say, “influential, professional and committed.”
“When you talk to him, you can really tell that he does things not just because it is his job, but he really cares about what he does,” says Dean Platt, a CLHS senior. “He is just super ambitious and expects the best from you.”
The KENS 5 segment featuring Schatte may be viewed here.
Congratulations, Mr. Schatte!
Photo descriptions
-Canyon Lake High School CTE agriculture teacher and department head Garrett Schatte is the Comal ISD KENS 5 EXCEL Award winner for 2025.
-Canyon Lake High School CTE agriculture students were excited to be interviewed by KENS 5 and talk about this year’s Comal ISD EXCEL Award winner, Garrett Schatte. Pictured from left is Eli Hammons, Dean Platt and Weston Ackermann.
-Pictured from left is Comal ISD Board of Trustee Jason York, DeAnna Fling with Credit Human, Canyon Lake High School Principal Mark Oberholtzer, and Comal ISD KENS 5 EXCEL Award winner Garrett Schatte, KENS 5 anchor Sarah Forgany, Ramon Abarca from Credit Human, Comal ISD Board of Trustee Courtney Biasatti and Comal County Commissioner Precinct 4 Jen Crownover.
-Garrett Schatte and his family who was in on the surprise.