Peter Magee, GLTS instructor

I thoroughly love what I do. This is my 17th year teaching, my fourth teaching at Greater Lawrence Technical School where I’m a carpentry instructor. The program we have at GLTS is special, offering off-campus homebuilding projects with ACT.  It is a privilege to have this relationship with ACT; this is a real-world setting that you can’t replicate in a shop.

We have fun out here and learn at them same time—fun makes the learning better. We have about 100 students, about a quarter of whom are girls, learning carpentry, plumbing and electric. Our students are learning what it’s like to build a house from the ground up, learning to work outdoors, learning how to use tools, learning how to work on a ladder. They get to meet the architect, inspectors, and the site contractor. I share the truisms of carpentry—“Plumb, level, straight and square” and “think like a drip,” are two of their favorites.

Along with carpentry skills, we teach the importance of a good work ethic and work on the softer employability skills. Conversations, attire and mannerisms are all modeled both through our work as teachers as well as the high school seniors in the program. We teach the importance of showing up on time, communicating with their teachers and their teammates, making eye contact, putting your phone away, dressing appropriately—each student gets his or her own tools, hardhat and glasses. We want our students to know the importance of professional, friendly relationships.

These students are like sponges. They are willing to listen and learn; however it’s critical to earn their respect first.  They are polite and respectful and enjoy hearing the stories of working in the field. Every moment is a teachable moment.