WyoTech is encouraging experienced automotive professionals to become teachers in order to meet the growing demand for technicians, including auto upholsterers.
“The demand in the trade industry is growing, as is the number of technicians who are reaching retirement age,” Kyle Morris, WyoTech’s president, told Repair Driven News. “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.”
Based in Laramie, Wyoming, WyoTech offers programs in everything from auto collision to upholstery. In fact, many elite auto trimmers that we know and love graduated from their upholstery program.
There will be approximately 14,800 openings for technical education teachers annually for the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, not enough professionals are stepping up to fill those roles.
“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, a WyoTech diesel instructor.
“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.”
Charles McDonald, a WyoTech trim and upholstery instructor, echoed that sentiment.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Anyone interested in becoming a WyoTech teacher should visit their website for more information.
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