Mark Smith, winner of the Educator of the Year Award, poses with former student Nathan Minuth, who nominated him for the award presented annually by the Wood Industry Association.

This marks the eighth time a member of the Woodwork Career Alliance has won the Wood Industry Association’s prestigious Wooden Globe Award for education excellence.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Mark Smith, a dedicated woodworking instructor and chairman of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s Education Committee, was honored with the prestigious 2024 Wooden Globe Educator of the Year Award by the Wood Industry Association (WIA).

Smith’s commitment to inspiring young people to pursue careers in the woodworking industry has been unwavering. With 30 years of experience, including nine years at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood, Ill., he has consistently gone above and beyond to provide students with a comprehensive education. His dedication to preparing students for success is evident in his role as a WCA accredited skill evaluator and his frequent presentations at industry events.

The WIA recognized Smith for his exceptional work in developing a curriculum that fosters student interest and exposes them to the tools and techniques used in modern woodworking. Reed-Custer High School offers a variety of courses, including CAD, CAD/CAM 1 & 2, Production 1 & 2, STEM, and 3D Printing, providing students with valuable credits toward their high school diplomas, college education, and WCA credentials.

Smith’s commitment to connecting students with industry professionals is equally impressive. Through career days, manufacturing days, and industry events, he has helped students gain firsthand experience and establish valuable relationships. His extensive network of industry contacts has been instrumental in supporting his program and providing students with opportunities for future employment.

The nomination for the Educator of the Year Award came from Nathan Minuth, a 2019 graduate of Reed-Custer High School. who is currently completing his Master of Science in Technology program at Pittsburg State University. Minuth, who along with fellow PSU student Connor Jennings, crafted this year’s WIA Wooden Globe Awards, expressed his deep gratitude to Smith for his mentorship and guidance.

“Mark’s passion in class got me interested in woodworking and drove me to learn more,” Minuth said. “If not for him, I may have not gone into this industry, and I certainly would not have found PSU and all of the amazing opportunities that have come from that.”

As Smith prepares to retire from his long and successful teaching career to pursue new opportunities, he reflects on his accomplishments with a sense of pride and gratitude. He acknowledges the support of his industry colleagues, who have played a vital role in his success and the development of his students’ careers.

“Even though I’m the one with the trophy sitting on my desk at school, it really belongs to all of my industry supporters as well,” Smith said. “I cannot state strongly enough that it is my industry supporters who have made my program what it is today. Their support has been instrumental in my success and the growth of my students’ careers.”

Scott Nelson, president of the WCA, praised Smith’s passion for teaching and promoting the woodworking industry. “His dedication to nurturing the next generation of skilled craftsmen is inspiring,” Nelson said. “We are fortunate to have him leading our efforts to foster a thriving woodworking community.”

WCA Educator of the Year Honor Roll
Mark Smith is the eighth recipient of the WIA Wooden Globe Educator of the Year Award to be affiliated with the Woodwork Career Alliance. Those who became before him include:

2008 — Patrick Molzahn, director of cabinetmaking and millwork, Madison Area Technical College, Madison, Wis.
2013 — Dean Mattson, cabinet and wood manufacturing teacher, North Salem High School Woods Program, North Salem, Ore.
2014 — Doug Rappe, program director, Greater West Town Community Development Project, Chicago, Ill.
2015 — Doug Hague and Charles Phillips, woodworking instructors, Wood Technology Institute at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan.
2016 — Scott Nelson, president, Woodwork Career Alliance of North America, Lincoln, Neb.
2017 — Greg Larson, owner/director, New England School of Architectural Woodworking, Easthampton, Mass.
2018 — Joe Davis, mill and cabinet instructor, Dale Jackson Career Center, Lewisville, Texas

About the Wood Industry Association
The mission of the Wood Industry Association is to improve management operations, marketing programs, sales techniques, merchandising and distribution functions of those engaged in the domestic or foreign manufacture of woodworking machinery and ancillary equipment and/or the sale of such equipment in North America.

About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America was founded in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The WCA’s mission is to develop and administer a unified set of Skill Standards for the wood products industry. Since 2011, WCA has developed observable and measurable performance standards and assessments for more than 240 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued over 6,000 Passport credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 140 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members and a growing number of woodworking companies have joined the WCA as MANufacturing™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.