Woodwork Career Alliance to Preview Online Training Modules at IWF

Each module consists of several related courses covering a wide range of woodworking essentials.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) is addressing the industry’s skilled labor shortage by offering a glimpse into its first-of-their-kind online training modules at the International Woodworking Fair (IWF), taking place Aug. 6-9 in Atlanta, Ga.

IWF attendees are invited to learn more about the WCA’s latest educational initiative designed to equip woodworking businesses with the resources needed to develop and maintain a qualified workforce.

Woodwork Career Alliance Measurement & Layout online training module

Layout & measuring is the first in a series of online modules that wood products companies will be able to use to help train their workforce.

The WCA’s online training modules provide a comprehensive and accessible solution for woodworking businesses of all sizes. The modules cover a wide range of essential woodworking skills, from foundational topics like wood characteristics and measurement to more advanced techniques in joinery and machine operation.

The two modules that will be featured at IWF include “Math, Measuring, and Layout” and “Wood Theory.” Each module consists of narrated lessons, outside reading assignments, and quizzes. Upon successful completion of each course, learners will have the background knowledge needed to continue their training on higher level tools and techniques.

“We’re thrilled to unveil WCA’s online training courses at the International Woodworking Fair,” said Greg Larson, who led development of the programs. “These are the first in a series of modules we plan to develop and roll out that provide much-needed education and skill development opportunities to a wider audience. I think they will prove valuable by woodworking shops of any type or size anywhere.”

In addition to showcasing the online modules, the WCA will also conduct a workshop titled “Building a Training Program for Your Workers” from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Led by industry veterans Scott Nelson, WCA President, and Bruce Spitz, WCA Board Member, the workshop will provide attendees with valuable insights and strategies for developing or enhancing their training programs tailored to their specific needs.

Highlights of the workshop include:

  • How to develop and structure a training plan.
  • How to access quality training resources and employee training modules.
  • Benefits of doing in-house training to create a career pathway.
  • How to develop the knowledge base skills that must be learned for employees to be successful.

Learn more and register for the WCA’s training workshop.

WCA Training WorkshopWoodworking professionals attending IWF are invited to stop by the WCA’s booth BC424 to learn more about the new online training modules. Representatives of the WCA will also be prepared to discuss the organization’s Skill Standards and Passport credentialing system designed to create career pathways for professional woodworkers. Plus, attendees and exhibitors can learn more about becoming a MANufacturing member, EDUcation member or sponsor.

“The International Woodworking Fair is a critical platform for the Woodwork Career Alliance,” Nelson said. “I always look forward to connecting with our industry – professional woodworkers and industry suppliers. It’s an invaluable opportunity for the WCA to showcase Skill Standards and Passport credentialling program that can help the industry recruit qualified personnel and train them so that they can develop and grow rewarding careers.”

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.

Scott Nelson president woodwork career alliance

President’s Message – Lots to Report from Our Recent Board Meeting

The WCA Board of Directors held its biennial face-to-face meeting in April. It was a day and a half full of information sharing, brainstorming and future planning.

We were joined by representatives of the National Woods Board (NWB) and worked out final details for a strategic partnership, a fellow non-for-profit organization that is reformatting the MiLL Method curriculum for use by high school and postsecondary woodworking programs throughout the nation. As a result of our agreement, the NWB will incorporate the WCA’s skill standards and credentialing program in the woodworking curriculum. You can read more about this exciting announcement here.

I am pleased to report that Brian Bond, a long-time member of the WCA Board and Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, is our new chairman. In addition, Mark Smith, industrial technology teacher at Reed-Custer High School, is new chairman of the WCA Education Committee. Mark and his committee’s first job was to vet the seven applications we received from woodshop instructors for scholarships to defray the cost of attending IWF. Read our press release. Meet the entire WCA Team.

All of the board members present at our April meeting participated in a demonstration of the new online training modules presented by WCA Vice President Greg Larson. The modules are now being beta tested by a select group of wood products manufacturers. We look forward to using the testers’ feedback to improve the training classes. We anticipate rolling out the first four modules, as well as the WCA Overview Module, later this summer. They include:

  • Math, Measuring and Layout;
  • Wood Theory;
  • Woodworking Fundamentals; and
  • and Milling and Machining.

We’re happy to be teaming up with IWF once again to present a workshop dedicated to developing or improving an in-house woodworking training program. I hope you will join us at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. WCA Board Member Bruce Spitz and I will share our knowledge, including how to incorporate the WCA skill standards and online training modules into a training program. All of those who attend the workshop will have the opportunity to join the WCA as a MANufacturing member for $100, a $150 savings off the annual membership fee.

It never gets old to report that WCA schools continue to credential candidates at a record rate! This spring semester, WCA schools entered 1,185 candidates into the Passport Credentialing Program and awarded 1,010 credentials.

Finally, I want to thank the new Woodwork Industry Association (formerly the WMMA/WMIA) for their continued support of WCA!  Their fundraising efforts at the Wood Industry Conference (WIC) and the actions of their board of directors resulted in a $5,000 donation to WCA. This support is extremely important for the continued success of WCA and our mission of a trained workforce in the secondary wood processing industry.

Stop by and see us at IWF booth BC424.

Sincerely,

Scott Nelson
President
snelson.wca@gmail.com

 

 

 

WCA Board Member John Stearns Finalist of Harbor Freight Teacher Prize

 

John Stearns, Career Technical Education Director of Amity School District in Amity, Ore., and is a member of the Woodwork Career Alliance Board of Directors, is one of 50 U.S. public high school skilled trades teachers named as finalists for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools (HFTS) Prize for Teaching Excellence. A total of $1.5 million in cash prizes will be awarded in the Fall, when the field is narrowed down to 25 winners.

Stearns, who previously served as lead woodworking teacher at the Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab (The MiLL) in Colorado Springs, Colo,, was one of more than 900 applications HFTS received this year from teachers in all 50 states. Stearns is also a WCA accredited skill evaluator.

Speaking of The MiLL, Michael Landis, instructor of construction and carpentry at the MiLL, is also a finalist for the teacher prize.

In 2021, Staci Sievert, a technical education teacher at Seymour High School in Seymour, Wis., was among the winners of the HTFS Prize for Teaching Excellence.

The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt. The prize recognizes outstanding instruction in the skilled trades in U.S. public high schools and the valuable work of teachers who inspire students to learn a trade that prepares them for life after graduation.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to serve as a catalyst to bring more attention and support to the exceptional skilled trades teachers and students across the country,” said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.

With this year’s prize, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools will have awarded more than $8.5 million to more than 150 U.S. public high school teachers and their skilled trades programs – supporting tens of thousands of students along the way.

The mission of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is to increase understanding, support and investment in skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence is its flagship program.

The finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges with expertise in career and technical education. Applications are accepted from U.S. public high school teachers in the following trade categories: agricultural mechanics, carpentry, construction, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, plumbing, transportation mechanics and repair, and welding.

The list of finalists is available here.

The 2024 finalists now advance to a second round of the application. Two additional rounds of judging, each by separate independent panels of reviewers, will narrow the field to 25 winners and, finally, name the five grand prize winners of the group.

The five grand prize winners will each receive $100,000, with $70,000 going to their public high school skilled trades program and $30,000 to the skilled trades teacher behind the winning application. The 20 additional winners will each be awarded $50,000, with $35,000 going to their public high school skilled trades program and $15,000 to the skilled trades teacher. Winners whose school, district and/or state policy prohibits receipt of the individual portion of the prize award were eligible to apply on behalf of their schools’ skilled trades programs. If they win, the entire share of the prize will be awarded to their programs.

Winners join a nationwide network of outstanding skilled trades teachers who convene throughout the year, including at a four-day, in-person summer convening called “Let’s Build It,” to share best practices and develop new ideas to advance high school skilled trades education.

 

 

18 Silverton High Students Awarded Sawblade Certificates

Le Snelling, woodworking instructor at Silverton High School in Beaverton, Ore., announced that 18 out of 22 student candidates successfully completed their Sawblade Certificate.

Snelling was recently appointed to the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s Education Committee.

 

 

Welcome New Members & Sponsors!


The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is pleased to welcome the following new members and renewing sponsors.

Thank you for your membership and support!

New EDUcation™ Members
Live Oak High School – Morgan Hill, CA
New Castle High School – New Castle, WY
Oshkosh North High School – Oshkosh, WI
Portage Northern High School – Portage, MI
Two Rivers High School – Two Rivers, WI

Find WCA EDUcation™ woodworking programs in your area.

New MANufacturing™ Member
Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding – Thomaston, ME

New INDustry™ Gold Sponsors
Grizzly — Bellingham, WA
INNERGY
– Sauk Rapids, MN
Kreg Tool
– Ankey, IA

INDustry™ Gold Sponsors Renewals
Cantek America – Blaine, WA
Kerfkore – Brunswick, GA
Roseburg Forest Products – Springfield, OR
Thermwood — Dale, IN

INDustry™ Silver Sponsor Renewals
Black Bros.
– Mendota, IL
CP Adhesives – Newark, OH
Deerwood Fastners – Conover, NC
Gemini Coatings — El Reno, OK
Leitz Tooling — Grand Rapids
Paintline — Menlo Park, CA

View all WCA INDustry™ Sponsors & Supporters.

Learn more about the benefits of becoming a WCA sponsor.

WCA Board Elects Bond Chairman; Appoints Smith to Lead Education Committee

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America elected Brian Bond, professor of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, to serve as chairman of the board of directors. Additionally, the WCA Board selected Mark Smith, industrial technology teacher at Reed-Cutler High School, to serve as chairman of the WCA Education Committee.

Brian Bond chairman Wood Career Alliance of North America

Brian Bond

Bond, who is also Associate Dean for Extension, Outreach and Engagement at Virginia Tech, will serve as chairman for a one-year term. He has been a member of the WCA Board of Directors since 2009. Bond was instrumental in helping develop the format of the WCA Skill Standards, the core of the WCA’s Passport credentialing program.

“The WCA is in good hands with Brian at the helm,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “Through his long-standing dedication to fostering excellence in woodworking education, Brian has been a valuable member of the WCA team and has helped us propel our mission forward.”

Smith has been a woodworking instructor for nearly three decades including the last six years at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood, Ill. In 2014, Smith was one of the first woodworking instructors to become a WCA accredited skill evaluator. Over the years, Smith has helped hundreds of high school students earn their WCA Sawblade certificates. He is also a frequent presenter at industry events and is well versed in using social media platforms to promote his program to the woodworking industry.

Mark Smith chairman of the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee

Mark Smith

“Mark’s dedication and expertise to making his woodworking student’s workforce ready makes him perfectly positioned to run the Education Committee,” Nelson said. “Under his guidance, we anticipate significant advancements in our educational initiatives. The WCA will also greatly benefit from his social media expertise.”

In addition to Smith, the WCA is welcoming a new team of members to the Education Committee including:

  • Rich Christianson, Richson Media, Chicago, Ill.
  • Lizzy Conley, Madison College, Madison, Wis.
  • Kristine Cox, Rowland Woodworking, High Point, N.C., SkillsUSA Manufacturing and member WCA Board of Directors
  • Tim Fixmer, CCI Media/Woodworking Network, North Liberty, Iowa
  • Kent Gilchrist, Fremont Interiors, Indianapolis, Ind., SkillsUSA/Manufacturing and member WCA Board of Directors
  • Chris Hofmann, Colonial Saw, Kingston, Mass.
  • Daniel Kern, Montgomery Central High School, Troy, N.C. and WCA Chief Evaluator
  • Adria Salvatore, Architectural Woodwork Institute, Potomoc Falls, Va.
  • Le Snelling, Silverton High School, Silverton, Ore.
  • John Stearns, Amity School District, Amity, Ore., and member WCA Board of Directors
Responsibilities of the Education Committee include overseeing the WCA Essential Benefits Package and Greg Heuer EDUcation Scholarship Fund, plus advancing the WCA through the use of social media.
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.

National Woods Board and Woodwork Career Alliance Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Woodworking Careers

National Woods Board

 

The overarching aim of the collaboration is to equip school woodworking programs with comprehensive instructional tools that will prepare their students for the workforce.

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., and LINCOLN, Neb. — The National Woods Board (NWB) and the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) are pleased to announce a transformative strategic partnership aimed at advancing the next generation of professional woodworkers in North America. This collaboration underscores both organizations’ commitment to aligning educational programs with industry standards, promoting career opportunities, and cultivating talent within the woodwork sector.

Central to the reciprocal agreement, the NWB will incorporate the WCA’s skill standards and credentialing program in the woodworking curriculum it is preparing for use by high school and post-secondary woodworking programs. The NWB is reformatting the The MiLL Method curriculum successfully implemented at The MiLL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab) in Colorado Springs, Colo. The NWB’s curriculum is scalable, meaning educational woodworking programs of any size and scope can adapt it based on their wood shop’s resources and unique needs.

The five-year agreement also calls for the NWB and WCA to promote each other’s programs to raise awareness among schools and industry.

By aligning training programs and skill standards with industry needs, NWB and WCA will empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to launch successful woodworking careers. This collaboration will also support the recruitment, training, and retention of a skilled workforce, ensuring the long-term vitality of the woodworking industry.

“I am excited to officially launch our partnership with Woodwork Career Alliance,” said Thomas Allott, chairman of the NWB. “Our education system needs a structured education and credentialling system that is built by industry to give students the opportunity to make a career in wood product manufacturing, and this partnership helps fill that need. Workforce development and finding skilled employees is the number one challenge that wood product manufacturers face daily and currently there isn’t a pipeline of skilled employees ready to step into these positions. This partnership will empower suppliers, manufacturers, and educators to help build the next generation of educated, competent, and confident employees. The WCA has helped lead the industry in industry-vetted skill standards. The National Woods Board feels grateful to be a part of the accomplishments to come.”

“This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to excellence but also underscores the value we place on industry alignment and accreditation,” commented Amanda Conger, executive director of the NWB. “By integrating the WCA’s esteemed credentialing program into our curriculum, we are not just raising standards, we’re opening doors of opportunity for aspiring professionals in the woodworking industry. Together, we are shaping a future where skill, knowledge, and credibility intersect to drive innovation and success.”

“Our partnership with the National Woods Board represents a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen the woodworking workforce and elevate industry standards,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “Together, we will provide the next generation of woodworkers with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. By pooling our expertise and resources, we can address the challenges facing our industry and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation.”

To kick off the partnership, the two groups are laying the groundwork for a pilot program. High school woodworking instructors throughout the country are being invited to try out the NWB’s Foundations in Woods Manufacturing 1 curriculum that incorporates the WCA skill standards and credentialing system, in their programs this fall. The objective of the pilot program is to receive instructors’ feedback that can be used to help further refine the curriculum and make it even more scalable. Instructors interested in learning more about potentially participating in the trial should contact Amanda Conger, executive director of the NWB, director@nationalwoodsboard.org.

About the National Woods Board
The National Woods Board (NWB) was inspired by the MiLL National Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., which teaches woodworking students everything from fundamentals to advanced production using high-tech machinery. Ultimately, the vision of the NWB is to bridge the gap between education and the trades by creating advanced career opportunities that fulfill the industry’s massive workforce needs. Learn more at NationalWoodsBoard.org.

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.

Crafting Futures: Woodwork Career Alliance to Present Training Workshop at IWF 2024

The session will focus on developing or improving an in-house training program to build and sustain a skilled woodworking workforce.

Woodwork Career Alliance training workshop IWF 2024

Woodwork Career Alliance representatives Scott Nelson, left, and Bruce Spitz will offer their learned guidance for establishing an effective in-house training program.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America will conduct a workshop at the International Woodworking Fair addressing the industry’s ongoing challenge to recruit, train and retain productive woodworkers.

The workshop, “Building a Training Program for Your Workers,” is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. The discussion will be led by Scott Nelson, president of the WCA, and Bruce Spitz, member of the WCA Board of Directors. Both presenters have decades of experience running architectural woodworking companies.

Owners and managers of wood products manufacturing companies should attend the workshop for several compelling reasons:

  1. Skill Enhancement: The workshop will provide insights and strategies for developing in-training programs tailored to the specific needs of wood products manufacturers. Attendees can learn about the WCA’s skill standards and credentialing programs geared toward enhancing the skillset of their workforce.
  2. Increased Efficiency: Well-trained workers are more efficient and productive. By attending this workshop, owners and managers can gain valuable knowledge on how to design training programs that focus on improving efficiency, reducing waste, and optimizing production processes within their manufacturing facilities.
  3. Quality Improvement: Training programs can significantly impact product quality. A well-trained workforce is paramount for manufacturing wood products that meet or exceed industry standards and customer expectations.
  4. Safety Compliance: Workplace safety is a must in manufacturing environments, especially in industries involving heavy machinery and equipment. This workshop can provide attendees with insights into developing training protocols that incorporates safety to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with industry regulations, reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
  5. Employee Retention and Satisfaction: Investing in employee training demonstrates a commitment to the professional development and well-being of staff members. By attending this workshop and implementing effective training programs, owners and managers can foster a positive work environment, enhance employee satisfaction, and improve retention rates.
  6. Competitive Advantage: In today’s competitive market, companies that prioritize training and skill development often have a competitive edge. By attending this workshop and implementing innovative training initiatives, wood products manufacturers can differentiate themselves from competitors, attract top talent, and position their businesses for long-term success.
  7. WCA MANufacturing Member Discount: Wood products companies attending this session qualify for a $150 discount off of the $250 annual MANufacturing membership.

Learn more and register.

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.

Scott Nelson president woodwork career alliance

President’s Message: Get Involved & Help Us Grow Some More

As stated in our most recent press release, 2023 was WCA’s best year ever. We entered 1,391 candidates into the WCA Passport Credentialing Program and awarded 1,358 Credentials. I thank all of our WCA EDUcation & MANufacturing members that worked hard in 2023 to make this accomplishment possible!

This month we will begin beta testing the WCA’s first four online training modules as well as the WCA Overview Module, which is a prerequisite for taking any of the online courses. The four modules that will be subject to testing include: Math, Measuring and Layout; Wood Theory; Woodworking Fundamentals; and Milling and Machining. WCA will have the final versions of these modules ready for use by IWF 2024. Plan to attend our IWF workshop 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. We will present ideas to help wood products business owners develop their in-house training programs using WCA Training Modules and Skill Standards.

WCA will once again offer financial assistance for teachers to attend IWF 2024 through our Greg Heuer EDUcation Scholarship Fund. WCA EDUcation member instructors can apply for a grant here. The WCA Education Committee will select up to 10 scholarship winners by the end of May.

We’re looking for a few good volunteers from education and industry to serve on our Education and Standards committees. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about these opportunities to help us develop and grow a skilled woodworking workforce.

Finally, later this spring WCA will issue a press release listing WCA EDUcation member high school and postsecondary schools that are graduating credentialed students who are interested in pursuing job opportunities in the wood products industry. The purpose of the press release is to connect students with potential employers. Feel free to contact me about how participating in this release might benefit your students and your program.

Sincerely,

Scott Nelson
President
Woodwork Career Alliance of North America
snelsonwca@gmail.com

Kettle Moraine High School Woodshop WCA EDUcation member

Kettle Moraine High School Embraces WCA Core Credential

Kettle Moraine WCA EDUcation memberEditor’s note: A year ago, Pathways featured a profile of the robust woodworking program at Kettle Moraine High School. By happy coincidence, dozens of participating students were also members of the high school’s varsity football team which had just won the state of Wisconsin’s 2022 football championship. While the Kettle Moraine Lasers came up short in their playoff bid for a title repeat last Fall, the woodworking program continues to build on its impressive record of growth and achievements.

Perhaps most notably, the program led by technical education teacher Scott Bruening, is making the pivot to meet more rigorous requirements laid out by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to continue receiving CTE incentive grants. As a result, Kettle Moraine woodworking students will not only be challenged to earn their WCA Sawblade Certificates this spring, they will also be evaluated and tested to receive the Core Credential, the next level of the WCA’s credentialing scheme. Earning core will further demonstrate a students’ readiness to join the woodworking industry if they so choose.

 

In 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (WDWD) approved the Woodwork Career Alliance’s Sawblade Certificate as a recognized credential of its Career Technical Education Incentive Grant program. The incentive program was created “to support and strengthen quality CTE programming that results in industry-recognized certifications that help to mitigate workforce shortages.” As a result of the WDWD’s approval, high school woodworking programs using the WCA’s Skill Standards and Passport credentialing program became eligible to receive grant awards of up to $1,000 per graduating student who earned their Sawblade.

Entering this academic year, the WDWD raised the stakes for CTE Incentive Grant eligibility. Students are now required to earn the WCA’s Core credential for their high school woodworking program to receive a grant award. The Core credential, introduced in 2021, builds on the Sawblade Certificate that has long served as the cornerstone for recognizing a student’s ability to safely set up and operate basic woodworking machinery in accordance with the WCA’s Skill Standards. To achieve the Core credential, a student must earn the 10 skill points required for the Sawblade Certificate plus an additional 10 skill points while also accumulating at least 120 hours of hands-on woodworking experience. Students must also pass separate online tests for Sawblade and Core awards.

Kettle Morain High School Woodshop WCA EDUcation memberIn a letter to Wisconsin EDUcation member instructors, Scott Nelson, president of the WCA, noted that the WDWD made the change based on feedback from wood products manufacturers in the state who opined that the skills required by the Core credential better prepared interested students to enter the workforce. “As a past architectural woodwork manufacturer, I had to agree that the Core Credential does make the student a much more employable person directly out of high school,” Nelson wrote. “Our board of directors agreed and gave the state the OK.” The bottom line, Nelson added, “(T)he WCA’s mission is to help provide a trained workforce for the secondary wood processing industry, so we want to test as wide of a variety of tools/operations as possible.”

Kettle Moraine Takes on the Core Challenge
Scott Bruening, technology/engineering teacher at Kettle Moraine High School, was one of dozens of Wisconsin high school woodworking instructors who received Nelson’s letter outlining changes to the WDWD CTE Incentive Grant program. Kettle Moraine has been a WCA EDUcation member since 2019. Over the years, the Kettle Moraine woodworking department has received tens of thousands of dollars from the WDWD for helping students earn their Sawblade Certificates.

Bruening paid close attention to how the Core Credential builds on the Sawblade Certificate to get a better handle on what changes his program would have to make to the curriculum to help students achieve their Core Credential and qualify for WDWC grants.

Kettle Moraine High School Woodshop WCA EDUcation memberTo earn a Sawblade Certificate, a student must first pass the Skill Standards Basic Measuring and layout evaluations and be successfully evaluated for the following operations each worth 2 skill points:

Table Saw – Ripping
Jointer – Edge Jointing First Edge
Table Saw – Edge Rabbet Single Blade or Dado Set
Random Orbital Sander – Sand Flat Pieces of Solid Lumber
Drill Press – Drill Holes to Specified Location and Depths, or Completely Through Material

The student must then pass the online Sawblade Certificate test.

In addition to meeting the Sawblade Certificate requirements, to earn a Core Credential a student must accumulate at least 120 hours experience hours and earn an additional 10 skill points by demonstrating competency in the following operations:

Planer – Planing to Thickness
Jointer – Face Jointing
Portable Power Miter Saw – Square Crosscut (90º Miter)
Router Table – Edge Shaping
Band Saw – Rough Saw Parts from a Pattern

Note: Woodworking instructors can submit a request of alternative operations to the WCA for approval if their program does not have one or more of the equipment listed.

“I was happy to see that we were pretty much already teaching our kids the Core Credential requirements,” Bruening says. “We really didn’t have to make any significant changes because we were hitting those certification pieces before.”

Bruening adds that the biggest impact of the Core Credential is the extra time it takes to evaluate each student on the five additional machinery operations that are required. Fortunately, because Kettle Moraine’s block schedule provides woodworking students 85 minutes of class time every day of the week, Bruening, a WCA accredited skill evaluator, is able to accommodate the additional Core evaluations.

“We’ve already completed the student evaluations for both the Sawblade and Core requirements,” Bruening says. “Now all they have to do is complete their online tests which will happen soon. They will basically get their Sawblade Certificate and Core Credential simultaneously.”

Woodworking Program on the Growth Track
Kettle Moraine has approximately 200 students enrolled in woodworking classes this academic year. That represents about one-fifth of the high school’s student body. The staunch popularity of woodworking has been boosted by a significant increase in female participation this year. Girls now occupy about 20 percent of the nearly “sold-out” classes, Bruening says.

“I think we’re seeing more females take woodworking classes is that they have confidence they can do it and they are signing up with friends to take woodshop together,” Bruening says. “Nobody wants to be a solo rider so if they can take it together with friends it makes them more comfortable that they are not going to be the only girl in the class.”

In addition to record numbers of female participation, Kettle Moraine has expanded its woodworking program to include a Construction Cabinetmaking course. The new program is only open to students who complete Woods 1 and Woods 2.

“We have a really well-equipped woodshop,” Bruening says. “In our Woods 1 class, in addition to learning how to operate the equipment required for the Sawblade Certificate and Core Credential, students learn things like basic layout, project planning, board foot calculations and costing. In Woods 2, they tackle more complex projects like building Shaker tables with drawers and tapered legs. They learn to do face glues up because we only purchase 4/4 stock. There is more emphasis on finishing the job to a higher quality standard. It’s also an opportunity for students to work toward their WCA Green Credential.”

“In our Construction Cabinetmaking course, we introduce students to CNC-based projects using Mozaik software and a CNC Factory Viper nesting router. This allows us to teach more industry-level skills to the kids,” Bruening says. “Now we are getting more in-depth by allowing our cabinetry program to dovetail with construction. In addition to doing rough framing, the students are designing cabinets, nesting parts, assembling and finishing them. Bruening notes that the CNC router caught his eye at the 2021 AWFS Fair which he attended with the grateful financial assistance of a Greg Heuer Education Scholarship from the WCA.

Kettle Moraine High School Woodshop WCA EDUcation memberSolid Community Support
Bruening says he is hopeful that the woodworking shop will be expanded to accommodate more equipment and students.

“Because we our pretty much maxed out on capacity, we really can’t do the construction program the way we would like to do it because we are absolutely land locked in terms of space and the number of hours in a day,” Bruening says. He further notes that the school’s 10,000-square-foot shop and classroom “has a class in it every hour of every day all year long.”

A recent community survey showed that residents of Kettle Moraine’s school district rank Career Technical Education right near the top of academic programs that they would like to see improve and grow. “I was hard pressed to find a parent at our last open house who was not impressed with what we are doing in our program. It’s encouraging to know that the community, including those without kids at our school, support the skilled trades.”

“I think being a WCA EDUcation member helps validate our program,” Bruening says. “The skills that the kids use to earn their Core Credentials are directly tied to the projects they create, many of which they have pride taking home to mom and dad.”