Onekama Teacher Shines as Extraordinary Educator

Evan Delke has a few roles with Onekama Consolidated Schools : pre-algebra teacher, pre-calculus teacher, geometry teacher, woodshop teacher, assistant varsity football coach and middle school boys basketball coach.

“Being a small school you’ve got to wear a lot of hats,” he said jokingly.

Delke said he enjoys spending time with his students.

“I love the social aspect,” he said. “I love being able to talk with students and getting to know them and what they’re doing with their extracurriculars and hobbies, I love that. I also really enjoy the day to day. There’s always challenges, new problems to solve.”

When asked about why it is meaningful for him to show students he cares, he referenced a quote often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.

“There’s a saying that they’re not going to really care what you know unless they know you care,” he said. “That’s a big part of my philosophy.

"You’re taking an interest in what they like and what they do, whether it’s hobbies or extracurriculars. It allows me to have things I can circle back to and tie examples in with (in the classroom or in sports).”

Delke just finished up his second year with the district and was nominated as a Manistee News Advocate and Benzie County Record Patriot Extraordinary Educator, which highlights the positive aspects and work local educators are doing daily throughout the 2024-25 school year.

Teachers were nominated by the public, and then our sales staff chose teachers to be highlighted in a feature article.

One person who nominated Delke as an Extraordinary Educator said in part that he “exemplifies everything an extraordinary educator should be.”

“Evan’s commitment to his students’ growth, both academically and personally, makes him truly extraordinary. He invests time, heart and energy into every aspect of his teaching, and his impact will be felt for years to come,” part of the nomination reads.

The nominator added that Delke “brings patience, creativity and clarity to a subject that many students find intimidating” in his math classes.

“He consistently finds innovative ways to make math accessible and engaging, helping his students build not only their skills but their confidence,” the nomination states in part.

One tool in Delke’s teaching methods is adaptability.

“When you’re teaching something and you teach it one way and it’s not really working, and they’re not making that connection (you have to be able to switch) it up and change how we’re teaching it to see them have that ‘aha’ moment after you (changed approaches),” he said.

Those moments when students grasp a topic after he has changed a teaching approach “feel really good,” he said.

Delke had a significant role in bringing the school’s shop class back after a four-year absence.

When Onekama’s superintendent Dan Mesyar started at the district in 2023, the school’s shop room was being used for storage .

In previous News Advocate reporting, Mesyar said he wanted more out of the shop room than storage space, and he set about bringing shop back to Onekama.

He credited a large portion of the class' return to Delke’s efforts.

Delke’s nominator said the class is a “hands-on learning opportunity (that) has opened up a whole new world for students who thrive in practical, creative environments.”

"Through this program, Evan is teaching valuable life and trade skills, encouraging craftsmanship and showing students the pride that comes from building something with their own hands,” part of the nomination states.

Growing up, Delke played sports and now he says his involvement through coaching is a way to give back.

“I got to this point where I was like I’d like to be able to work with the students. It helps build rapport with them like I said earlier where they got to know you care,” he said. “There’s also the (fact that) people went through and worked hard to provide those opportunities for me so I want to give back and be able to do that for them as well.”

The nomination notes that Delke “is a passionate and deeply dedicated teacher who goes above and beyond to support and inspire his students every single day — not only in the classroom, but also on the football field and basketball court.”

Delke’s teaching and coaching philosophy is to prepare students “to be the best that they can be” and to “try to inspire them to strive to be the best they can be.”

He added that he hopes that he keeps improving and getting better at each of his roles with the school.