Mentor Schools students try their hand at construction management
By Mimi Vanderhaven
In the growing myriad of trades involved in the construction field, there is nothing as valuable as real-world, hands-on experience.
Through the Mentor Schools Construction Management Program, students benefit from authentic learning experiences that build upon skills they are learning in the classroom.
Over the course of the school year, 24 high school juniors and seniors are stripping a dilapidated home down to its wood studs and rebuilding it.
The program began in 2015. This year, the project was a three-bedroom, 1,700-square-foot foreclosed property in Mentor that had sat vacant for more than five years.
“We strive to provide an educational experience that enables students to learn the skills required to enter into the construction management field,” says Joseph Glavan, coordinator of Career Technical Education at Mentor High School. “When searching for a home to renovate, our number one priority is ensuring it is able to meet the educational needs of the students.”
Students plan, implement and install roofing and siding, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, windows, flooring, drywall, a kitchen, fixtures and do the painting.
He explains that each student is tasked with designing an area and bringing it to life, from the initial blueprints to the final coat of paint.
“Due to the generosity of local business, our students are able to work alongside current professionals to perfect their skills,” he adds. Partners on the renovation project include Anderson Heating and Cooling, EC & M Electric, Duncan Plumbing, and RL Smith Concrete.
Past graduates of the Mentor Construction Management program have gone on to utilize their skills in a variety of paths, whether it’s continuing their education in construction management at four-year universities or moving directly into the workforce and joining trade unions in electrical, plumbing, masonry and carpentry.
“We’re especially proud that several students have also taken these skills and started their own businesses right here in Lake County,” he says.
Look for these monthly stories to cover topics at every level of the schools throughout the school year. The Mentor School system educates 7,600 students from pre-K to 12th grade in seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and one specialized school for students with autism. For details, visit MentorSchools.net.