Page 10 - TTWISpring2026

Construction Trades
Page 10 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

Middleton High School’s Woodworking and Constructions Teachers

and Students Look for Community Support to Build a Solar Kiln

his efforts to remove and harvest trees to draw on their knowledge and
harvest trees to collect logs resources. He and three of his woodworking
and mill them into lumber. students recently talked with WMTV 15 News
Justin Zander said about the project.
milling their own lumber He explained how the kiln operates: “It’s
will reduce costs and allow basically an insulated shed. You put vents into
woodworking students to it, and it acts like a wind tunnel to dry out
do more and bigger class- boards in the right way. It heats up wood to kill
room projects. He said the bugs and acts as a dryer to take the moisture
school spends about $6,000 out of the wood.”
a year on lumber. He esti- Riley Kuehn Freshmen Henry Courtier
mates that once the kiln is and Riley Kuehn and junior Veda Gear shared
operating, the figure will be with WMTV 15 News what the woodworking
closer to $600 annually. classes mean to them and the importance of
With the grant Zander finding a high school class where you belong.
won from the Middleton- Zander is teaching 125 students in five
Cross Plains Area School woodworking classes this semester, and he
District Education Foun- said the high school has 125 to 175 students
dation, he plans to build enrolled in woodworking classes each semes-
a solar kiln with his col- ter. It’s part of Middleton High School’s that may have resources and knowledge to
league Dan Biddick and strong career and technical education offer- guide this endeavor.”
Biddick’s construction ings, which have been highlighted in national Individuals and organizations interested
students next semester. outlets including The Wall Street Journal (sub- in supporting Zander’s work can email him at
Once the kiln is finished, scription required) and CBS Evening News. zander1@mcpasd.k12.wi.us.
Carrie Brooker, Public Relations Specialist Zander’s woodworking “I am hopeful that we can generate
Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District students will begin collecting logs and milling enough lumber to easily meet the needs of
Middleton High School engineering and them into lumber. all our high school students and then start
technology teacher Justin Zander recently Zander would like to connect with local working towards assisting with the supply at
earned a grant to build a solar kiln, and he’s arbor-related businesses as well as munici- the middle schools as well,” Zander said. “I www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us
looking for community partners to support palities and individuals that remove and am looking for members of the community

Kromrey Middle School’s “Trade Up” Event Showcases Skilled

Trade Careers

ery such as cranes and excavators, to talk also received a preview of Middleton High
with students. Representatives from two School’s Youth Apprenticeship program.
construction companies also presented, dis- WMTV 15 News also covered the
cussing careers at their companies such as event. Kromrey Middle School Associate
mechanical contractors and construction Principal and ACP coordinator Joanna Cree
jobs. told WMTV 15 News the event aimed to
The presenters highlighted education broaden students’ perspectives about their
and training requirements, salary ranges, options after high school.
work environments, and what their jobs “The message we’re emphasizing is
entail. They also discussed apprenticeships that not everyone wants to go to a four-year
and the requirements for obtaining journey- college, and that’s completely okay,” Cree
man licenses. said. “The skilled trades offer great pay, job
Students asked presenters questions security and the chance to see something
about what they do, how much they earn, you built with your own hands.”
and how to start training.
“Honestly, all the careers were really
interesting to me because you can keep
developing your skills, and you can keep www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us
advancing onto one specification in your
career, “ seventh grader Harshitha Manikan-
dan told WKOW 27 News, which covered
Seventh graders at Kromrey Middle with a day-long academic and career plan- the event.
School got a sneak peek of careers in the ning (ACP) experience for seventh graders In addition to hearing from profes-
trades at the school’s Trade Up event on to learn from skilled trades professionals and sionals, the event’s curriculum included
Feb. 17. employers. opportunities for students to learn about
Technical education teacher Dan He invited plumbers, electricians and different types of post-secondary education
Biddick organized the event to coincide operating engineers, who run heavy machin- and post-high school pathways. Students