Page 11 - TTMNFall2026

Manufacturing
Teaching Today Minnesota | Fall 2026 Page 11

Head of the Class

More high schools opt for programs that lead to manufacturing careers.

the district launched the Bluejacket Advanced had to apply for the jobs — something most had
Manufacturing Program (AMP) in 2025, which not done before — teachers worked with them
introduces students to local manufacturing com- on job hunting basics, such as writing a resume
panies and job opportunities. In addition to plant and making a phone call to set up an interview.
tours and weekly seminars, students can apply For a generation raised on texting and
for paid internships at local manufacturers to social media, making a professional phone call
gain experience. and leaving a message was a stretch, Soler says.
“We wanted a specialized work-based At the same time, the school sought out compa-
program for manufacturing,” says Katie Soler, nies with a culture that had the flexibility and
career and college coordinator at the district. communication styles younger workers thrive
Funded through a Youth Skills Training grant on. “The work ethic is different,” Soler says of
from the Minnesota Department of Labor and younger workers. “It’s not that they don’t want
Industry, 22 Cambridge-Isanti students found to work. But they have to feel a connection to
jobs at 12 businesses in the area during the their work. They want things to be more rel-
2025-26 school year. “My goal was twofold,” evant to them.”
says Soler. “I wanted to get the kids on their The district’s matchmaking efforts paid
track, realizing that not all kids are going to go off, Soler says. Most of the students who were
to college and not all should. I also wanted kids placed earned $14 to $18 an hour. “Across the
to find out they could be contributing members board, 100%, students loved working with the
of society, that they could go to work and con- companies we partnered with,” she says.
tribute while still in high school.” In addition to placing students in jobs,
Matching students to companies and Hutchinson High School created an in-house
teaching them job-seeking skills proved an
interesting challenge, Soler says. Because they Continued on Page 12

It’s early June, and even before the bell for equipment similar to what they might use on the
fourth hour rings at Centennial High School in job someday, much of it donated by local com- Career Pathways Take Center Stage
Circle Pines, students in Joel Depies’ Pathways panies. The classroom includes several welding
to Manufacturing class get to work. booths, a sheet metal shearer, a press brake, Continued from Page 8
They trickle into the expansive shop room CNC machines and lathes, tools for manual
and go right to their individual projects. One milling, and metal for projects. “We could not
uses a press brake to shape an anchor she’s have done this without our business partners,”
making for her family’s boat, while two others Depies says, who has taught for 10 years and
begin manually milling a fixture to be used in joined the staff at Centennial a year ago. “I had
cutting and shaping a bolt for snowplows. not been planning to move here, but when I
Other students have fabricated metal fire walked through and saw what they have done,
pits as they develop their skills. They have it was amazing.”
also built fixtures for the classroom, such as Independent School District 12, where
the metal shelf that Cole Skoy built to store up Centennial is located, has made growing its
to 2,000 pounds of materials donated by local manufacturing-focused offerings a funding pri-
companies. ority in the past few years, says principal Tom
“The welds have to be pretty strong to hold Breuning. Like other high schools around the
up that kind of weight, especially the ones at the state, Centennial’s program has found willing
bottom,” says Skoy, a senior in that Centennial partners among local business leaders, who
classroom who hopes to pursue a career in fab- are eager to introduce students to the skills and
rication and welding. “I like working with my opportunities in manufacturing. “We have local
hands. I like making things that are useful and companies banging down our door to be part of
work and have their place.” this,” Breuning says. The event also served as the official ufacturing, Engineering & Robotics Open
The manufacturing program at Centennial kickoff for the 2026-27 FIRST Robotics House was captured in the September 25
is only in its fourth year, says Depies, but interest Same mission, varied approaches season. During a special session, students edition of The Week in 62.4 Seconds, the
among students is high and growing. Centennial Of Minnesota’s 329 public school districts, learned how they could become involved district’s weekly video highlighting happen-
is one of dozens of high schools in Minnesota 253 have some kind of program focusing on with Team 2207, while parents learned about ings, achievements and learning experiences
that are strengthening industrial technology and construction, transportation, or manufactur- opportunities to support the Bright Bears com- throughout White Bear Lake Area Schools.
other skills-based programs to help students find ing. However, the programs’ approaches, even munity. The program includes a high school For students, families, community
careers in the trades. According to Minnesota among those dedicated to manufacturing skills, varsity team for students in grades 9-12, as members and industry partners, the event
Career and Technical Education, a statewide vary widely. What they share is a focus on teach- well as a mentoring program for middle school was an opportunity to see Career Pathways in
organization that recruits and trains teachers, ing basic skills to students and introducing them students in grades 6-8. action – and to witness firsthand the innova-
the number of Minnesota high schools offering to equipment they might use on the job. Many The evening offered more than a tour of tion happening inside White Bear Lake Area
programs in trades and industry increased by programs allow students to earn an OSHA-10 impressive facilities. It provided a glimpse into High School.
9% between the 2023-24 school year and the certification as part of their coursework. the ways White Bear Lake students are learn- Watch some highlights from the open
2024-25 school year. In the Cambridge-Isanti school district, ing to design, build, create and solve problems house here https://www.youtube.com/
In the past two years, Centennial’s shop students can take multiple classes in welding, – while gaining skills that can serve them well watch?v=KzD-YOUvsIU.
has gone from what Depies calls a “hodge- machining, and computer-aided drafting and in college, careers and beyond.
podge of stuff” to a place where students have design. To give students even more experience, The energy and excitement of the Man- www.isd624.org