Wednesday, February 15, 2023
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America welcomes the addition of John Stearns and Brad Bagnall to its Board of Directors. Stearns, the director of career technical education at Amity School District in Amity, Oregon, and Bagnall, a teacher of construction and robotics at Bowness High School in Calgary, Alberta, both received three-year appointments. According to a WCA press release, they succeed Greg Heuer, Duane Griffiths, and Mick McGowan who have all retired.
Following two years as the head instructor of the MiLL in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Stearns returned to the Amity School District in 2020. Around 2014, Stearns and Amity High School became an EDUcation member of the WCA. He is a Skill Evaluator with WCA Accreditation.
“I use the WCA standards as part of my safety training with students. I am OSHA-10 and OSHA-30 authorized to train- but the measurable tool safety tool standards are more user friendly for the instructor and student,” Stearns said. “I look forward to serving on the WCA Board. I hope I can be an effective sounding board as a high school instructor.”
As an EDUcation member since 2016, Bagnall and Bowness High School has been a part of the WCA. He afterwards earned his WCA Accreditation as a Skill Evaluator. Bagnall stated that he wants to increase the WCA’s participation in construction and skilled trades-related courses at Canadian High Schools.
“I have worked as an Accredited Skill Evaluator in partnership with my employer, the Calgary Board of Education and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology to offer WCA Skill Training courses for our school instructors. I hope to broaden these partnerships and continue to offer training sessions to educators. Being a part of the WCA Board of Directors allows for more networking capabilities with industry and I am excited to explore additional opportunities to bolster the WCA in Canada.”
Tags: Brad Bagnall, John Stearns, WCA North America, wood, Woodwork Career Alliance, woodworking, woodworking and manufacturing, woodworking event, woodworking industry, woodworking USA
