California Teacher Surprised With $100,000 Prize in Front of Students

Gregory Kraus, a teacher at Amistad High School in Indio, California, received a $100,000 prize as one of the 25 grand prize winners of the 2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes public high school skilled-trades teachers and their programs.

Kraus was surprised with the award in front of his students, who gathered in the school gym to celebrate him. He had been led away from his automotive technology class under the pretense of discussing school budget matters.

"This program is my passion," Kraus stated. "I came into this with just the mindset of, ‘I want to change the world in a positive way, one student at a time.’"

Kraus's own path to teaching was influenced by his experience as a young single father needing to provide for his daughter. Skills learned in his high school automotive classes enabled him to enter the workforce directly, leading to a 15-year career in the automotive industry, including time at a Honda dealership.

He transitioned to teaching after his mother suggested it, realizing his industry experience was valuable for Career and Technical Education programs. He has spent the last nine years developing Amistad's automotive program. Kraus had applied for the Harbor Freight prize for nine consecutive years prior to this win.

The prize includes a $30,000 personal award for Kraus and $70,000 for Amistad's career and technical education program. Graduates of the program have secured positions at companies such as Tesla, Toyota, and Boeing.

Kraus holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration from CSU San Bernardino.