Over 80 JATC Instructors from the U.S. and Canada attended the 2023 Trainer Enhancement Classes at the Maritime Institute in Maryland to improve their teaching skills.

The Trainer Enhancement classes was established 2005 by former Insulation Industry International Apprentice and Training Fund (IIIATF) Administrator Thomas A. Haun. The classes have evolved into an important and effective way for the men and women responsible for training the next generation of Mechanical Insulators to continue their education.

After participants take the week-long Teaching Techniques I program, they can return for another three years to complete Teaching Techniques II, III, and IV. The curriculum and topics build off what was taught the previous year.

“Education as the cornerstone of progress is especially vital in precision-demanding trades such as mechanical insulation,” current IIIATF Administrator John L. Stahl said. “These classes have enhanced teaching techniques … and the program has continued to evolve, showcasing educators’ dedication to refining their teaching methodologies.”

Embracing different techniques

Effective teaching involves exploring new ways to engage with apprentices, from classroom strategies to hands-on approaches.

Instructors are encouraged to think creatively and experiment with methods to connect with apprentices.

“Every year,  I am amazed at the wide array of teaching techniques that come out of these classes,” Stahl said. “Everyone who attends is an active participant. I believe that through collaboration, the Brothers and Sisters that attend these classes come out not only as better instructors but better Union Leaders as well.”

Enriching learning experiences

Many sessions during the week are led by accomplished educators from the Labor Heritage Foundation and their affiliates. Other classes are led by experienced HFIAW training coordinators.

“The Trainer Enhancement classes are like nothing else,” Local 17 Chicago Instructor Ashley Margentina said. “They provide you with all the tools and resources you could possibly need, bringing us closer as a membership. I leave here every year more confident in my ability to teach and help others from my Local. Not only does it help with teaching, but I believe it can help in all leadership roles. I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”

Training that ‘isn’t easy’

IIIATF Assistant Administrator Sam Tafolla who is a recent program graduate admitted the training, ‘isn’t easy” and if you do think it’s easy you aren’t working hard enough.

Looking back on his hard work, Tafolla identified multiple benefits of his effort.

“My apprenticeship gets a more qualified instructor,” he said. “I gained skills I never had, making me an even more well-rounded trainer that no one can ever take away from me. I’ve become part of a larger group of like-minded individuals whose only goal is to better their trade, themselves and those around them.”

Tafolla keeps up with the other 22 participants of the group he took his first class with. Texting in a group chat, he and the other members have helped each other over the years with questions about the apprenticeship and the union, and sharing each other’s personal lives as they have formed friendships that will last a lifetime.

The Trainer Enhancement Program fosters an environment of collaboration and innovation that makes Local Union Instructors well-equipped to shape the future of mechanical insulation.

As the classes continue to evolve, they serve as a model for professional development in the industry.