WyoTech is a leading automotive trade school that is known for its efforts to address the need for skilled technicians in the country. The experienced faculty at WyoTech is now encouraging individuals with technical training and expertise to consider a career in teaching as there is a looming shortage of technical education teachers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be around 14,800 job openings for technical education teachers annually over the next decade, mainly to replace retiring teachers or those leaving the profession. The Bureau also projects a requirement of 28,000 diesel technicians and mechanics annually over the coming decade.
“The demand in the trade industry is growing, as is the number of technicians who are reaching retirement age,” said Kyle Morris, president of WyoTech. “And there is a dire need for the current generation of technicians and teachers to pass their knowledge and passion to the next generation so we can keep the trades – and therefore the country – up and running.”
Although many people in the trade industry are aware of WyoTech’s support in providing hands-on experience to the next generation of technicians, the need for mentors and teachers in the industry is often overlooked. Both schools and companies require experienced hands who are willing to share their passion and expertise with the younger generation of technicians. The instructors at WyoTech recognize this need and encourage other technicians to consider entering the field of teaching.
“There’s a huge need for teachers across the board. I can see it in our programs, and I can see it in other programs across the country,” said Tyler Mead, Diesel Instructor at WyoTech.
“There’s lots of reasons to teach, and I often feel like I get way more enjoyment out of teaching than I do when I’m actually working on equipment. I get more reward out of it than I ever did ‘mechanicing.’ To see the progression and development of the students is out of this world.”
Veteran WyoTech instructors have witnessed how their students’ growth has resulted in successful careers that also offer a high quality of life.
“Working with one’s hands to build or repair is rewarding for many that do it, and that usually translates to personal happiness and contentment,” said Charles “Mac” McDonald, Trim and Upholstery Instructor at WyoTech.
“I would suggest to anyone considering a teaching role to think about the impact they can have on someone’s life. It’s a good feeling to have a student reach out to you years later to thank you for impacting their life in a positive way.”
According to WyoTech instructors, the ability to utilize their expertise to impact the lives of hundreds or even thousands of students is the most important aspect of teaching.
“In the fighting world, a force multiplier is a tool that gives you an unfair advantage. I am that tool to my students, a force multiplier,” said Robert Stage, Automotive Instructor at WyoTech. “That is what I’d say to a technician who was contemplating coming to WyoTech to teach: Come here and make the most impact that you ever could in our industry and the careers of our young people. Be that force multiplier in someone else’s life.”