Tag Archive for: Woodwork Career Alliance Board of Directors

Richard Christianson

Amity High School Woodworking Teacher John Stearns Wins $50,000 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize

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The award winner is a long-time active member of the Woodwork Career Alliance, including serving on the WCA Board of Directors.

 

Amity High Schools' John Sterns, winner of 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence

In addition to the cash prize, John Stearns, CTE Director at Amity High School, won a tool cabinet in the eighth annual Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence award program.

AMITY, Ore. — John Stearns, Career Technical Education Director and woodworking instructor at Amity High School, has been honored with the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools (HFTS) Prize for Teaching Excellence. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding educators who are shaping the future of skilled trades.

As a recipient of this award, Stearns will receive a $50,000 prize package, including a $35,000 grant for Amity High School and a $15,000 personal award. This generous funding will be used to enhance the school’s CTE program and provide invaluable resources for students.

“The experience has been overwhelming,” Stearns said. “My phone and email immediately blew up with well-wishes and more importantly, industry professionals wanting to get involved in my program. I’m really looking forward to the expanded opportunities my students will have.”

Stearns began his teaching career in cabinetmaking and furniture construction in Amity then served as the lead woodworking instructor at the MiLL National Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for two years. He returned to his educator roots in 2020, becoming CTE Director and construction teacher at Amity High in 2020.

Stearns has been an active EDUcation member of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America for more than a decade and was certified as a WCA accredited skill evaluator in 2014. He is also a member of the WCA’s Board of Directors and Education Committee.

Stearns’ dedication to his students is evident in his innovative teaching methods and his focus on practical, hands-on learning experiences. He emphasizes the importance of problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, skills that are essential for success in any career.

“I can teach transferable skills to students who, no matter what career path they ultimately choose, can use those skills to be successful,” Stearns said. “I can show a young man or young woman how to look someone in the eye and shake their hand on a job site, and that skill is transferable to any life path. I can teach a student how to solve a problem while looking ahead and anticipating the next issue, and that skill is transferable to any life path that student chooses. What a cool blessing that is for a teacher.”

Established in 2017, The HFTS Prize for Teaching Excellence recognizes teacher excellence among high school skilled trades including industrial technology, welding, construction, automotive, carpentry, and more. The prize is intended to increase understanding, support and investment in skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. Stearns’ application was one of more than 900 received for the 2024 prize.

“On behalf of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to John for winning this prestigious prize,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “John’s dedication to inspiring the next generation of woodworkers is truly commendable. His passion, expertise, and commitment to fostering a love of woodworking are an invaluable asset to our industry. We are honored to have him as a part of the WCA community.”

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.

Richard Christianson

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

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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.
Richard Christianson

Spitz Joins WCA Board of Directors

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NELLYSFORD, VA – The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America welcomes Bruce Spitz to the WCA Board of Directors. Spitz, is the owner of Classic Millwork & Products of El Paso, TX.

Spitz has a long history of leadership and activism with the Architectural Woodwork Institute. He is the immediate past president of the AWI and is immediate past chairman of the AWI Quality Certification Corporation. He has also served four years as AWI treasurer and a long list of committees, including chairing the AWI Education Committee.

“As a business owner, I’m concerned about the availability of a skilled workforce for our industry,” Spitz said. “Through my involvement on the AWI Board I have had a chance to work with the WCA and watch it develop a credentialing program that can help us develop the next generation of woodworkers.”

“We’re thrilled to have Bruce on the board,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “He has been supportive of the WCA since the beginning and has created an apprenticeship program for his own business that could be very instructional for a lot of woodworking companies looking for ways to sustain a skilled workforce.”

Spritz joins a board of directors that includes:

  • Duane Griffiths, chairman, retired president Stiles University;
  • Thomas Allott, manager, Stiles University;
  • Brian Bond, professor of sustainable biomaterials, Virginia Polytechnic Institute;
  • Kristine Cox, president, Rowland Woodworking;
  • Kent Gilchrist, director of operations, Purposeful Design;
  • Greg Heuer, retired director of education of the AWI;
  • Greg Larson, owner/director of New England School of Architectural Woodworking;
  • Scott Markwood, sales representative, Hafele America;
  • Mick McGowan, cabinetmaking instructor, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; and
  • Patrick Molzahn, program director of Cabinetmaking and Millwork, Madison Area Technical College.

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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 more than 2,500 credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 100 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.