“I especially appreciate seeing the look of accomplishment when a shop skill finally clicks. Students often tell me that a weld, cut, or part is “finished and good enough.” But after further discussion, they realize that it can be improved or even remade. ‘If we have time to do a job, we have time to … Continued
“What I love most about being a skilled trades teacher is hearing firsthand from students and parents that this class has helped to make their lives better.” Eric Wagaman has taught construction at Franklin County Career and Technology Center in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania for 15 years. After entering the construction field to help pay off college … Continued
“I love the connections I get to make with the next generations of leaders. I love to see the joy on their faces when they solve a problem or can be successful at something that no one else in their family can do.” Jeffrey Bertke has been an electrical trades teacher at Upper Valley Career … Continued
“I believe everybody thrives when education is designed so students learn with their head, heart, and hands.” Scott Burke is entering his 21st year of teaching skilled trades and his fourth year of building the construction pathway at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood, Colorado. Throughout his career, he has taught high school automotive, construction, … Continued
“I feel like if I can do right by my students and give them the most up to date training and the most professional and personal education that I can give them, then the results will be measured by their employment and their successes in their own careers. It also can be measured by the … Continued
“I have found that it is the intangible things – the life lessons, the soft skills, the networking that is done with their peers and teachers alike that really change these students’ life and can completely better their attitude and their trajectory.” John Lockhart has been teaching agriculture mechanics, structures and equipment repair for the … Continued
“Seeing students’ excitement when they realize they have used materials to create something of use with their own hands is very fulfilling. Students quickly embrace the philosophy “do it until it is right and not until it is done.’” Growing up in a small rural community, Stephen Lindridge quickly learned that a trade can lead … Continued
“I feel close to my dad when I’m in the shop. I enjoyed watching his work and problem-solving. I remember him often heading out to his shop and saying, ‘I wonder what mistakes I will make today.’ Problem-solving in the shop is a way of life. I am invigorated by the challenge of teaching teenagers … Continued
“I see myself in my students and value my ability to relate to them. I was not scholastically inclined and doubted my self-worth and failed to see opportunities based on my strengths. My students need someone to focus on their strengths and provide them with insight into opportunities and experiences they may not have elsewhere.” … Continued
“Through the welding program, the students have themselves discovered how to be teachers and to respect people of different educational levels, genders, and racial backgrounds. They have learned to switch roles with authority figures and have increased their level of patience and confidence. They also experience pride in themselves for mastering a specialized skill and … Continued