Building, home renovation classes teach lifelong skills

Students have spent an inordinate amount of time at home over the past year. It has become clear how important our dwelling is to our mental health and comfort.

Thankfully, Lake Shore’s Career Technical Education (CTE) courses, Intro to Building Renovation and Home Renovation classes can teach students lifelong skills to improve their homes as well as garner skills that may assist them in future careers.

Chris Mazzola, one of Lake Shore’s CTE teachers, encourages all students to take the introductory classes. He states: “The class introduces over 40 different hand and power tools. It is where the students learn how to handle a tape measure, operate the many power tools, hook up and test electrical connections, hang and patch drywall and many more important life skills that will benefit them for a long time.”

These skills will be useful well beyond high school.

Students who enjoy the introductory class, or those who plan to pursue a career in skilled trades should also take the Home Renovation class. This class puts the initial skills to use in practical ways at a home owned by Lake Shore near the school.

Mazzola explained, “students travel off-site to remodel a house in a nearby subdivision. The goal is eventually to sell the house but using it as a teaching aide has always been the purpose. The District has been very supportive of the teaching that happens there and one day soon it will be completed and ready for sale.”

The house is used to teach students a plethora of skills including plumbing, electrical, drywall work, painting, oak flooring, ceramic tile, windows, doors, trim, framing, roofing repairs, landscaping, brick paving, and custom carpentry.

Mazzola’s mentorship does not end after a student’s senior year. He explains, “Once a student graduates, we follow up with surveys to see if they are in any trades after high school. I have many that have gone into the trades over the years. I have also been able to get quite a few students interviews and jobs through contacts, and I follow up with those contractors to see how they are doing.”

Another attractive factor to students following the skilled trade path is the variety and lack of crippling college debt. Students can begin making money and gaining independence almost immediately after high school.

Mazzola continues, “I am currently following and mentoring at least six former students as they navigate their newer positions with HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, electrical and cabinet installation companies. All are thriving in their new fields and are loving the fact that they don’t have any College debt.”

Building and Renovation classes allow students to start on a path of life-long prosperity or gain skills that will accompany them regardless of career path, and a dedicated teacher like Mazzola will be right by their side during either journey.