Andy Vrieze first arrived in Lewis-Palmer School District 38 to fill the shoes of Career & Technical Education Teacher. During his tenure, he has taught multiple trades classes focusing on everything from woodworking and construction, to welding and industrial arts.
“We started with eight trades classes when I began. This year, I think we’ll have 24–27 offerings of trades classes just at LP [Lewis-Palmer High School],” Vrieze said.
Vrieze has a lifetime of experience working with wood and creating. He grew up in a cabinet shop, where he learned under both his father and grandfather.
“So it’s in my blood a little bit, and I feel like I have a lot to offer,” Vrieze added.
He’s taken that experience of woodworking and serving the community and applied it directly to the things he produces with his carpentry classes.
Each year, Vrieze’s carpentry classes build greenhouses that are sold to community members. The proceeds go back into the woodworking program, so that future classes can build more. In the last six years, the classes have constructed and sold more than 150 greenhouses.
This fall, Vrieze is serving as one of the inaugural educators at the new D38 Career & Innovation Center (CIC). The facility provides relevant, work-based learning opportunities for students and hands-on experiences that connect learning to high-demand careers.
Phase 1 programs at the CIC include advanced manufacturing, engineering, and skilled trades. Phase 2 will expand to include computer science and healthcare pathways.
“[What excites me about the CIC] is there will be new offerings and new things that I will get to learn, but also that there will be more options for kids. The whole goal of the program is to expose kids to as many of the trades as possible,” Vrieze said.
After completing classes at the CIC, students will be equipped with the skills to directly enter the workforce after graduation, or take what they have learned and continue on to college.
One of the new classes Vrieze is teaching at the CIC this fall is manufacturing.
“(Manufacturing is) kind of putting skills, like say welding, into making something or producing a product. I thought we might make things like jet stoves or custom smokers, or something where we’re putting all of our learning into actually creating.”
As far as what the future holds, Vrieze is looking forward to what the CIC will provide not only for his students, but also for the entire D38 community.
***This content was first published in “Monument Living” and “Palmer Divide Living” magazines powered by Best Version Media. D38 is proud to partner with these community publications to feature our students and staff members.
