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Story and Video: John Marshall High School Pre-Apprenticeship Program First Of Its Kind In W.Va.

GLEN DALE — John Marshall High School’s Carpentry program launched a pre-apprenticeship initiative through the North American Building Trades Union in partnership with the Upper Ohio Valley Building & Construction Trades Council. 

The announcement was made Thursday by carpentry teacher Matthew Ali during a press event attended by students in the program along with teachers, trades representatives, board of education members and representatives of Education West Virginia.

Ali said the pre-apprenticeship program is the first of its kind for a West Virginia high school.

“Apprenticeship really changed my life and gave me the opportunity to learn a new career when I was 33 years old,” Ali said. “I had left the professional world and I was in a bad place. I needed a job and I ended up with a career. I want these kids to have the same experience I did but without all the mistakes.”

Ali said some people may see the trades as a “Plan B,” but he considers them “Plan A.”

“If you’re willing to put in the hard work, you’re going to rise up through the ranks,” he noted. “And you’re going to be successful and do all those things you want to do.”

The two-year program includes a curriculum used by the trade unions along with advanced safety standards and hands-on skill building.

Kristie Skidmore, co-president of Education West Virginia, said she is proud of Ali for developing the program and for the students participating. She added she hopes the students will stay in West Virginia after graduation.

“If not, beyond that, you are going to be prepared to be productive citizens,” she said. “Ultimately as educators that is one of our goals, to prepare you.”

Dale Lee, co-president of Education West Virginia, said the students are examples of great things happening in West Virginia classrooms.

“People will tell you and some politicians will tell you that we are tired of being 50th in the nation in education,” he said. “You are not 50th in the nation. You are doing an outstanding job. And our CTE programs, our trades, you are going to go out and succeed in life immediately after graduation from high school. And that’s what education is all about; it’s about making dreams come true.”

Eran Molz, president of the Upper Ohio Valley Building & Construction Trades Council and Operators Local 132 representative, said the students can make $50,000 to $60,000 as a first-year trades apprentice after they graduate high school.

“We want the best. … If you are not drug-free. If you don’t show up to class. If you don’t get good grades, we don’t want you. That’s the bottom line. We want the best of the best,” Molz said.

He noted on job sites the trades members work together well and watch out for each other. The jobs also offer good benefits such as retirement pensions, he said.

“After three to five years, you are graduated. You will have a union card. You want to move to Tampa Bay, Florida? You want to live by the beach? You just walk into that union hall with your union card. You want to stay here? And we hope you do. You’ll have options,” Molz said. “This is a golden opportunity.”

JMHS senior Graeme Stevey said although he will not benefit from the new program, he is happy for his younger classmates to have the new opportunity. He noted Ali is a great teacher and is also a father figure for some students including himself.

“It’s an absolute honor to have Mr. Ali here as our teacher. That new teacher has to fight for the kids to like him, but he had no trouble with it whatsoever,” Stevey said. “It’s just really great. He’s proving it right now; he’s the best carpentry teacher in the world.”