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Steubenville High School carpentry program building futures

Contributed LEARNING SKILLS — Steubenville High School junior Josiah Rea gets some instruction from teacher Jacob Hudson as he completes a project for the carpentry program.

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville High School is building skills and the future for students interested in trades through its carpentry program.

Now in its second year, the program includes 34 students with 25 first-year pupils and nine-second year members. Teacher Jacob Hudson said it was a joint apprenticeship program with Carpenters Local Union 186 of Steubenville and students could move on to careers and learn skills they can utilize.

“There’s a shortage of workers in trades and a lot of people are getting older and getting ready to retire, so they need people to take over,” Hudson said, adding that he has seen students develop an interest in careers within the trade industry. “College isn’t for everyone and there will always be a need for trades.”

Several second-year students were making plans to go on in the field to become welders and carpenters, but there were further benefits in understanding the skills they gain in the program.

“I had 30 students last year in the first-year class and nine continued on,” he said. “Even if they learn safety and a skill set, these are things they can use for the rest of their lives.”

Hudson said the apprenticeship program utilizes four books which his students will follow. The first book provides for simple projects which introduce them to construction, and pupils are completing a project where they are creating birdhouses. The second book focuses on larger projects and students will construct a shed during the second semester. Meanwhile, the third book centers on residential construction and the fourth book looks at commercial building.

“The first year, the students will do books one and two,” he said. “The second-year students do book three, so they are learning how to build a house. They learn how to build walls, hang doors and windows and do framing and drywall. Third-year students will get into the commercial side and learn about such things as metal stud framing.”

Students have done projects to benefit their school and community including creating picnic tables for the Steubenville Baseball Association at Belleview Park and a chalet used during Christmas at the Fort, plus they utilized a CNC router to create large “S” signs sold by the high school Football Moms as a fundraiser and stars for students to create ornaments at the Steubenville STARS program.

Meanwhile, union representatives have visited to speak to classes in the past while students attend field trips such as the Project BEST Job Fair at Wheeling Park last fall, the latter of which included interactive events. Hudson said students not only gain an upper hand with apprenticeship experience but they also earn 12 points toward their high school graduation.

“As far as they complete their requirements, they would be further along in the union apprenticeship program,” he commented, saying each level also gives them a pay increase.

Junior Josiah Rea, a third-year student, is one of those prospects and said he has gained plenty of knowledge through the carpentry program.

“I like working in carpentry and drilling and sawing,” Rea said. “It’s really important to be precise and to follow instructions.”

He said he may seek a career in the trades after graduation, but the program has taken him out of the classroom and given him more of a hands-on education.

The carpentry class is among the Pugliese STEM Academy’s career-technical education programs and begins with foundational instruction that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

Shana Wydra, district director of STEM and career-technical education, said the program prepares students for a successful future.

“The carpentry program at Steubenville High School is a hands-on career-technical education initiative designed to equip students with essential skills for a career in carpentry and the broader construction industry. The program provides students with practical training in woodworking, blueprint reading, tool operation and construction techniques, preparing them for entry-level positions and advanced apprenticeship opportunities. By collaborating with industry professionals, including the Carpenters Union, the program ensures students learn to meet industry standards and gain exposure to real-world applications,” she said. “Through this comprehensive approach, the program fosters technical expertise, critical thinking, and job readiness, empowering students to pursue rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”

Wydra said the program owed its origins to the partnership forged with the Carpenters Union, which was spearheaded by Troy Stewart. Stewart, a representative of the union and a strong advocate of career technical education, recognized the importance of equipping students with hands-on skills to prepare them for lucrative careers in the trades.

“His leadership and collaboration with Steubenville City Schools helped establish the program, which was designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of carpentry while fostering a pathway to professional opportunities within the construction industry. This initiative not only addressed workforce demands but also opened doors for Steubenville students to pursue apprenticeships, certifications and well-paying careers in carpentry.”

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