A New Woodworking Academy Headed to National Prominence
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open
Click on the image to open

The Peyton, CO School District has taken the first step to creating a woodworking program that will become national in scale. That first step was the opening of a dedicated woodworking school in Peyton, CO on the site of a former middle school campus. Enrollment in the current academic year is expected to reach 60 students. For the 2016-2017 school year, 120 students are expected.

The secondary-level educational program draws students from surrounding school systems to the program, formally called the Career Technology Education Facility. In addition to the woodworking program, courses in automotive technology are also offered. Tim Kistler is Superintendent of the overall program at the Peyton CTE.

The Peyton School District Woods Manufacturing Program is headed by Dean Mattson, the WMIA Wooden Globe Educator of the Year winner. Mattson is also a member of the Woodworking Career Alliance, and a certified tester - so students completing the program at Peyton will have ready access to the WCA tools mastery credentialling process.

EDUCATION

Call for a National Woodworking Academy

What if the wood industry launched its own model of classroom education in a cutting edge training center? Award winning educator Dean Mattson challenges suppliers.

 

Mattson says the school has received commitments approaching $1 million in support from woodworking machinery and supplies companies in anticipation of a new national academy.  The Peyton School District expects to establish that national academy in January 2017.

The board of directors of the school district has provide strong support and advocacy for the creation of the national woodworking academy, and the for the Woods Manufacturing Program that launched this year. This has garnered significant backing from industry suppliers, with more than two dozen listed as partners who have readily supported the program in kind, and financially. On Oct. 26 an appreciation dinner will be held followed by an open house Oct. 27 at which suppliers will be able to tell students about the importance of the school and its missions to the woodworking industry.

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Profile picture for user billesler
About the author
Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.