Teaching trades — Woodshop instructor highlights CTE career paths

Newcastle educator Bessie Colgrove was among the voices spotlighted at the University of Wyoming’s Trustees Education Initiative Showcase on Nov. 19, where she told an audience of more than 300 why strengthening career and technical education is critical for the state. The middle and high school woodshop teacher was invited to share her path into CTE and the growing demand for skilled-trade instruction.

The Showcase, held at the UW Conference Center, featured alumni, current students and advocates in the university’s CTE and agricultural education programs, according to a newsletter from UW College of Education Dean Jenna Shim.

“UW is making a big push to update all their career and technical education facilities in an attempt to try to get more students aiming for careers in industry, and in teaching careers in industry,” Colgrove told the News Letter Journal. “The idea behind this event was to have recent graduates and current CTE students come and talk about the benefits and flexibility of the program, and have a large supporting audience to show trustees, stakeholders, and legislators they value the importance of creating space in higher education for highlighting trades.”

Colgrove said she prepared by recruiting industry leaders, teachers, alumni and current students (both from UW and Newcastle High School) to attend. She said she was grateful to see that Weston County School District No. 1 Superintendent Brad LaCroix was present, in his role as a UW trustee, and Orlando Martinez and Wade Christensen, who work for the Wyoming Refining Co. refinery, were among those who attended.

Colgrove said that she was one of five alumni who explained how they began teaching CTE classes. The showcase also featured remarks from UW officials, Speaker of the House Rep. Chip Neiman and Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. In addition, current UW CTE students answered questions about the value of their coursework.

Although Colgrove is deeply involved in CTE, she said she still learned something new from the event. Industry professionals, she said, noted that they are projecting a national shortage of close to 500,000 construction workers.

“This is a point I reiterated in my speech when I said that the shortage in students being trained in trades is not just a 2025 problem, but a 2055 problem,” she said. “Many of our current workers are nearing retirement age, and who is going to do the work when they’re gone?”

Colgrove said Professor Rob Hill, who taught her when she studied CTE at UW, told her about the showcase and asked whether she would be willing to speak.

Hill told the NLJ he invited Colgrove because her work — including her role on the committee redeveloping Wyoming’s CTE state standards — is exceptional.

“She has a deep understanding of her content area and was able to apply this knowledge toward her degree,” Hill said. “She rapidly grasped concepts and created outstanding projects and materials.”

He said Colgrove was an asset to the standards committee, whose work is now under review by the Wyoming State Board of Education, because of her perspectives, training and experience. According to Hill, CTE is booming nationally, and Wyoming must train students who are prepared for related careers, which account for most of the open jobs in the state.

“Wyoming’s workforce is CTE and we must return to a time where we are training students for high-skill, high-demand, and high-wage careers that exist in our state if we are to create stability for the future of our communities,” he said.

Hill said he believes Newcastle is fortunate to have Colgrove.

“As local districts struggle to find enough qualified CTE teachers, Newcastle has found one of the best in the state,” he said.

NHS Principal Bryce Hoffman echoed Hill’s comments.

“Mrs. Colgrove does a great job for our students,” Hoffman said. “I’m very grateful for her willingness to step in when we found ourselves without a woods teacher.”

Hoffman told the NLJ that the district appreciates the support the community and the school board provide for CTE.

“We have the opportunity to have four teachers in this area while only being partially funded for one in the model,” he said. “Former leadership did a nice job building these programs.”

Colgrove said she believes the WCSD No. 1 community understands the value of trades, but that appreciation can continue to grow.

“Our students deserve to see skilled trades not as a fallback, but as a first-choice path to meaningful and economically strong careers. And we need to help our community understand that teaching these skills is itself a vital, rewarding profession,” she said. “We’re on a better track, but I really hope continued efforts, like this event, help build a future where every student sees the trades, and teaching the trades, as honorable and full of opportunity to benefit future generations to come.”