March 14, 2010
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Bob Barker, Executive Vice President, Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin
When it became clear in the state of Wisconsin that there was a great need for skilled tradesman and construction industry professionals—which would only dramatically increase in the near future—the leadership of Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin began to plan. Out of its 2003 Strategic Plan came the initiative for Construction Career Academy, the first of which is in place at Burlington High School, near Milwaukee. Rather than focus on vocational education, or souped-up tech or shop classes, AGCW members wanted to make sure that students in their Academy would take rigorous academic courses as well as become exposed to the construction trades. The benefits, they felt, would accrue to the students, who would have college-prep courses on their transcripts, as well as to the community, which would have quality construction industry workers available. But the benefits also showed up in strong student interest in staying in school and getting better grades, not to mention improved leadership and communication skills. Technos spoke with Bob Barker, the executive vice president of AGC of Wisconsin, about the Construction Career Academy initiative.
How and why did the Wisconsin Associated General Contractors group choose to become involved in the Construction Career Academy at Burlington High?
The Construction Career Academy initiative came out of the strategic planning process that our board of directors and staff went through in 2003. At the time the Board believed it was imperative that AGC work to improve the perception of construction in the eyes of parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and students—while recruiting of a future workforce into our industry, both at the trade level and at the professional level. Workforce development was and continues to be a cornerstone of our strategic plan.
Why we got involved at Burlington High School had to do with the fact that at the time, the president of our association was Peter Scherrer, of Scherrer Construction Company in Burlington. Peter had relationships already established with the school district administration and contacts within the community. He also understood that BHS was very proactive and innovative in offering learning opportunities to students.
Going into this initiative, we understood that we had to have the support of the superintendent of schools and the administration to embark on this initiative, and we felt Burlington was a great place to start. Plus, the size of the school was just about right.
Are there other similar career academies in Wisconsin or elsewhere?
AGC has another academy operational in Fond du Lac. While they are using similar curriculum, you can't say it is exactly like BHS at this point, and I don't think there is an exact model of our Academy in Wisconsin. There are a couple of charter schools, home building programs, etc. However, we don't believe the Academy model, which by the way continues to be built, has yet to be duplicated.
There are other AGC chapters around the country that are pursuing this Career Academy initiative. We're actually one of eight chapters to receive a sub grant from our national organization—AGC of America received a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, and we received a $21,000 sub grant directed toward our effort at Burlington High School.
Our interest in the Construction Career Academy model goes back to 2003, and our due diligence related to the workforce development initiative. Through our network of national contacts we heard that the AGC of St. Louis and AGC of East Tennessee (Chattanooga) were extensively involved in workforce development efforts. Peter Scherrer and I traveled to St. Louis to visit the Construction Careers Center charter high school; and then to Chattanooga to visit the construction career academy at East Ridge High School. Peter and I returned with the recommendation that the Construction Career Academy model be utilized as our workforce development effort. The primary reason was that it is AGC's mission to make this a statewide effort, and the Academy model appears easier to implement and flexible to meet the needs of individual high schools.
As far other academies in addition to East Ridge High School, we understand there is an academy in Omaha, Nebraska; two academies in Mississippi; one in Houston, Texas; one in Anchorage, Alaska; one in Portland, Oregon; and one in San Antonio, Texas. These academies are all part of the USDOL sub grant from AGC of America.
How is your Career Academy different?
We believe our effort differs both in initiative and curriculum. In 2006 our Board and staff met to update our strategic plan. At that session, we adopted our “big, hairy, audacious goal”—and that's to have nine Construction Career Academies operational by 2009, while impacting 1,000 students in this effort.
This goal has led us down the path of developing a career academy model that can be utilized by different high schools and be flexible enough to respond to the needs of the teachers, space needs, electives that might be available to students, etc. The basis of the model is a standardized curriculum, and we're spending a lot of time in the development of curriculum, which can be adopted by high schools around the state.
Is this a construction curriculum?
The Construction Career Academy is a learning community, a school within a school. It's made up of students who complete an application and interview with high school administration, current CCA students, and faculty.
In simplest terms the Academy is an integration of English, Math, Business, and the trades. We're developing totally new curriculum, built around the construction industry as a theme.
It's called a Construction Career Academy, but what we're trying to do is provide the students with career opportunities and showing them the different opportunities within our industry. For example, all of our members are businesses. Contractors employ accountants; business development professionals; project managers; estimators; engineers; architects; safety professionals; etc. Contractors also employ carpenters; brick layers; laborers; equipment operators; electricians; plumbers; etc. The Academy is intended to expose students to the different career path opportunities in our industry, and curriculum is an integral part of this effort.
The curriculum is being developed on the assumption that the students will be going to college. We know that they all aren't going to college, but the bar is being raised. We've hired the Worldwide Instructional Design System (WIDS) to initially develop the English curriculum. WIDS is working with Arlo Ketchpaw, BHS English Teacher and career academy cheerleader to develop the curriculum. Arlo has done a lot of work in our curriculum development effort and is a vital part of our success.
WIDS is a professional curriculum development organization. Our curriculum will meet state requirements, and we are also working to make that course work transcript-able with the technical college system and the University of Wisconsin System. It's critical that the curriculum be consistent, enduring and not dependent on individual teachers, who may leave the system. Through our work with WIDS, teachers will be provided lesson plans, student lesson plans, textbooks, and materials for Academy courses.
Are there other academies in other Wisconsin cities up and running?
As I mentioned, we have two academies operational right now: one in Burlington and one in Fond du Lac. We are working with schools in Marshfield, Beloit, Appleton, La Crosse, Stevens Point, and the Madison area for 2007-2009.
How are you choosing those places?
We are choosing the areas to start academies based on the interest of our members. It takes involvement from contractors in the local communities to make the academy successful.
It sounds like a lot more fun than I had in high school!
We are attempting to make students' high school experience more fun and relevant for their future. We started out with 23 students at Burlington in fall 2005, and this year we have 61 students. The Academy coursework is open to all students, so there are some students who might not be enrolled in the Construction Career Academy but who might take the Career Academy English course - and once they're there, they want to be involved in the Academy. Allowing any student to take the Academy courses spurs the growth of the program. Also, AGC of Wisconsin buys all the students Career Academy shirts and hardhats, so you have a community of students within the school who are part of something special. Other students see them and want to be part of it.
They're respected as Academy students.
The students gain respect from other students, teachers, and their parents by being accountable and taking care of business. Being part of the Academy is something special and is a privilege, not a right.
Do you find that they're staying in school and doing better?
The data on their tardies, absences, and suspensions have shown dramatic decreases. Grade point averages are going up, and they're attending classes and doing well overall. In addition to statistical improvements, the Academy has provided opportunities for leadership and other intangible benefits for students.
How is the Construction Career Academy different from traditional vocational education?
Some vocational education is folded into the Career Academy. There still is the hands-on trades work that's built into the Academy, and that's an important part of it—but it's only a part of the coursework. The other parts are the curriculum of English, math, and business, and we're incorporating Project Lead the Way within our plan of study. PLTW is a high school pre-engineering program that is highly regarded here in the state. Many high schools in Wisconsin have exposure to PLTW.
Obviously, AGC has recognized the need for this Construction Career Academy and just went ahead and got it started. Can you speak to the need?
It's a national need to develop a workforce of the future for our industry. We talk about losing our manufacturing base in the United States and those jobs being sent to Mexico or India or China—if you build a building in this country, you can't off-shore that work to India; the workers need to come from here. The average age of craft workers in the State of Wisconsin is anywhere from 39 to 45 years old. So, in the next ten years, we have some looming craft worker needs. Contractors always have needs for professionals in their organizations, qualified project managers, and estimators. The students in the construction programs in the University of Wisconsin System all have jobs by the time they're juniors, if they've taken care of business. We are talking about engineers, estimators, and project managers of the future. Wisconsin has a decent economy, but if you look at the Southwest, the Southeast, and the West, those are the growth areas of the country—and many opportunities are available for qualified people.
What opportunities are available in the construction industry?
We're trying to get the word out to teachers, parents, guidance counselors, and students of the opportunities that are available. Up to the point of this Career Academy effort in Wisconsin, quite frankly, we hadn't done a very good job.
In our industry there's a term that's being used quite a bit: “The war for talent.” We're competing against other industries that have a much more sexy reputation, such as biotech, biomedical, information technology, etc. Construction does have opportunities which are difficult to attain in other industries, and can be attained with hard work in a construction career.
Construction is one of very few industries in which you can take different career paths to company ownership. A student can graduate from high school; join an apprenticeship program; become a journeyperson; and start a business. A student can also graduate from high school; enroll in a university program; and eventually start his or her own business or work his way up through his company. [See Construction Workforce Career Path.]
Hard work is rewarded in the construction industry, and those individuals who are willing to work hard have unlimited opportunities. Those not willing to work hard should probably choose another career path.
Will contractors hire graduates of the Construction Career Academy?
The Academy provides students with opportunities for leadership and academic success. It teaches them the virtues and importance of hard work and accountability. Contractors look for those attributes in employees, so participation in the Academy provides contractors with insights into the personal character and skills which a student has demonstrated by being part of the Academy. Our mission is to provide opportunities for those Academy students who have chosen a career in construction.
Anything missing from Career Academy at the moment?
We have a lot of work to do in relation to curriculum development, and we don't have the work component for the Academy plan of study completed yet. We are working feverishly on these efforts.
What's the most rewarding aspect of this program for you?
We are making a difference in the lives of many young adults, helping them make decisions about their future. We are helping teachers get out of their silos, and rejuvenating their careers. We are helping parents by making the high school experience better for their son or daughter, and exposing them to career opportunities. We know there are students who would be on the outside looking in without the Academy, and that's rewarding.
Bob Barker can be reached at bbarker@agcwi.org—or at AGC of Wisconsin, 4814 East Broadway, Madison, WI 53716.