Page 14 - TTMNSpring2025

Manufacturing
Page 14 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

“A Place Here for Everyone”

Hands-On Experience
Junior Ethan Roberts is in his first
woodworking class this semester. He took
Architectural Drafting 2 last semester with
Mr. Porthan and came away impressed. The
class designed a shed on the computer and
then brought it to life in the shop, framing the
walls, adding a door and windows, and finish-
ing with a roof.
“We designed a miniature shed in a
program called Revit and then we actually got
a chance to build it, to set it all up. Going from
square one to see how people would design
it, then build it, then put it together; it was
so important for me. It was so nice to be in
the shop, learning how to frame a wall, and
to learn the process after the architecture and The Future
drafting piece,” Roberts said. Porthan has enjoyed his first year being
Porthan believes the opportunities in his back in the district. He envisions adding more
classes are important for all students to learn. technical education classes in the future such
“This area is great for all students, as Building a Tiny House.
whether they are interested in 4-year degrees, “I’m very excited for the future. I know
Eastern Carver County Schools team, to learn to convert a 2D design into 3D, 2-year degrees or apprenticeship programs. next year I’ll be taking more wood classes and
Bennett Eriksrud is involved in many then how to cut out the project using a 3D ren- We want to show them there are many options it will be fun to develop ideas for what my next
things at Chaska High School. He’s a state dering tool. for them to explore, wherever their passion projects could be, said Roberts, a junior. “The
qualifier in DECA, a member of Key Club and Eriksrud was able to create a hand-held lives,” he said. projects we’re working on right now are chal-
National Honor Society. He’s a shining star version during the first semester. Weeks into Porthan and students presented examples lenging for my level right now, but once I’m
academically. But when he’s in the technical the second semester, he had created a much of recent student work at registration night in able to build these skills up, I’m excited to see
education wing of the high school, his passion larger version of the work. “Once we had the January. what I could do in the future.”
comes out. small one programmed, there was a tool in “It’s so useful,” said Roberts of technical “In my last job, we had a wide variety
“My brother (Max) was always into the software to scale it up, so it was just about education classes. “I learned how to frame a of students in my classes. It was students that
woodworking and when I was able to see what changing some bit sizes,” said Eriksrud, who wall down here. Something I could actually wanted to try something they weren’t pro-
he was able to do, it inspired me to want to figured it took the CAD about 30 minutes to use ahead of me in life. It’s so important to ficient at and wanted to learn some problem
get into it. He’s been more of a furniture guy, cut out. “I really wanted to take the initiative learn these skills. Why pay someone a ton of solving skills and build life skills. They’re
while I’m more of a nick-nack guy. Making to learn how to use the software. There is so money someday to do some of these projects actually doing a hands-on task. We had kids
something I can hang in my room or practical much more creativity that can be done with when I can learn to do them now?” that were interested in being a plumber or
stuff,” Eriksrud said. that machine and this program.” “Part of the (metals) class was learning how electrician to someone interested in being an
Wanting to extend his talents beyond the Classmates used the CAD to make crib- to weld. I was able to weld on a tangible thing aerospace engineer all in one class. There’s a
standard cutting board or bird feeder projects bage boards in the early stages of the semester I’ll be able to use in the future. When you have a place here for everyone,” Porthan said.
in Woods class, Eriksrud went to work with as well. project you need to get done, and the skill you’re
Sam Porthan, the school’s new technical edu- learning will help you achieve that, you’re really
cation teacher. Using a CAD (computer-aided Following In Their Footsteps wanting to get to work on it. I think Mr. Porthan
design) machine that had primarily been used If the name Porthan rings a bell, it’s is really good with not only the how, but the why www.district112.org
for the robotics team, Eriksrud took his vision because Sam is a Chanhassen High School behind his teaching,” Eriksrud said.
of a map of the United States of America with graduate, the Class of 2017, the oldest of four
engrainment of stars and stripes of the coun- siblings. His parents, Janae and Tony, are
try’s flag and turned it into reality. teachers at Victoria Elementary and Chaska
He worked with one of his close friends, Middle School West. He worked at Waconia
Gavin Moen, captain of the Chaska Robotics High School previously before coming back
to Eastern Carver County Schools this school
year.
“I’d say I really started being interested
in becoming a teacher in high school. Being
at Chanhassen High School, I loved the
tech ed program with Mark Lacy and Peter
Mommsen, who was there at the time. They
kind of pushed me into that direction. I knew
what the teacher lifestyle was with my parents.
The positive impact they have had on so many
kids throughout the district, I was really drawn
to that,” Porthan said.
Porthan is currently teaching Introduction
to Robotics, Design and Fabrication Metals,
Know Your Car, and Design and Fabrication
Woods.