The Pacific Resource Partnership and the Department of Education kicked off a teacher internship program in the construction industry on Friday. The program aims to encourage interested students to prepare for construction jobs. From left, Nobleza Magsanoc, Telefoni Aumua, Bruce Coppa, Thalia Choy and Robert Samson mingled at the Pacific Club.
4 teachers
set to learn
building tradesThe initiative will help high school
graduates get construction jobs
Starting today, two teachers from Campbell High School and two from Kahuku High School are trading in their chalk and blackboards for hard hats and steel-toed boots. They'll even be subject to drug testing.
The four are taking part in a new Teacher Internship Program that will immerse them in the construction industry for four weeks so that when they return to the classroom, they can better prepare students for wide-ranging careers in the field.
"We're not just talking about a carpenter swinging a hammer," said Bruce Coppa, director of the Pacific Resource Partnership. "We're talking about engineers, accountants, interior designers ...
"A qualified, trained work force is a critical element of our business," he added, "and so this long-term commitment to support teachers, and in turn Hawaii's students, makes a lot of sense."
Pacific Resource Partnership, a joint venture of the Hawaii Carpenters Union and Hawaii's unionized building contractors, is sponsoring the pilot program with the state Department of Education. It is propelled in part by concern that some of the students who want construction jobs straight out of high school discover they are not qualified.
"Today, an estimated one-third of high school graduates who apply cannot pass the math test to qualify for job training," Coppa said. "In some cases, students might better understand the importance and relevance or reading, writing and arithmetic if framed within the real-life application of jobs that appeal to them."
Telefoni Aumua, a career and technical education teacher at Kahuku High, plans to bring along a video camera to help document his internship for his students.
"We can show them an updated version of what's involved in the industry," he said. "I like the fact that the industry is taking an interest in young people. They want qualified workers coming in. We're going to be their messenger, their voice."
The other teachers participating are David Forrest, a science teacher at Kahuku, Lance Kikuchi, a language arts teacher at Campbell, and Robert Samson, a career and technical education teacher at Campbell.
The construction industry is expected to create about 8,000 to 12,000 new jobs in the next five to 10 years, according to Nobleza Magsanoc, operations manager for the Pacific Resource Partnership. Coppa said he hopes to convey to students the exacting standards of the industry, and the relevance of academics to job performance.
"They need to know when they're dealing with fractions, what's that in relation to the real world," Coppa said. "Two-thirds of an inch might make the carpet not fit right. It can't just be 'da kine.'"
Partners in the program include Dick Pacific Construction, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., Kiewit Pacific Co., Maryl Pacific Construction Inc., Nordic Construction, Architects Hawaii Ltd., Wilson Okamoto Corp. and the Hawaii Carpenters Union.
Samson said some students -- including his own children -- might not recognize the value of taking classes like wood shop because they are focused on the college track.
"You learn how to fix an electrical socket, that stays with you forever," he said. Samson's oldest son became a machinist, he said, but "three of his friends from college couldn't get past the apprentice test."
The program began with an orientation on Tuesday and yesterday.
Today, the interns headed to the Hawaii Carpenters Union Hall in work clothes, ready to break a sweat.
State Department of Education
doe.k12.hi.us
