"What’s the point of all this?"
"Can’t I just go to work?"
"How does high school relate to my real life?"
These are the questions I hear regularly from my students. Young people today are searching for relevance and meaning in their education, and many struggle to see how high school connects to the real world.
I’ve worked hard to create that relevance in my classroom and lab, ensuring my students learn directly from industry experts and use professional tools. I want to give them authentic experiences that prepare them for life beyond what many students view as a "pointless" high school experience.
That’s why I embraced Team Oregon Build so quickly. It provides my students the chance to work alongside contractors and industry professionals on meaningful construction projects. These aren’t just sheds for storing junk or tiny homes for people with extra income.
These structures matter.
Our first 8'x16' transitional shelter left my shop and was delivered to a rancher in Eastern Oregon who lost everything in a wildfire. The devastation was overwhelming. This rancher, who had turned away help from multiple agencies, accepted the shelter when he learned that high school students had built it.
It’s a modest structure, barely the size of a student’s bedroom. But it’s safe, warm, dry, and offers a place to call home while the rancher rebuilds. When I shared photos of the shelter in use, there were tears in my students' eyes as they saw the real impact they had made.
"In my life and career, I look for WIN-WIN opportunities, and Team Oregon Build delivers just that"
- John Stearns
Certifications and Skills Earned
The I-Build program blended workforce training, academic recovery, and personal growth, ensuring students left with both practical skills and certifications. Key outcomes included:
Students WIN by receiving relevant, hands-on education in areas like math, engineering, problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, communication and empathy.
Oregon WINS with minimal investment, making a significant difference in the lives of its most vulnerable citizens.
Communities WIN by receiving support, whether through re recovery or shelter from homelessness.
People WIN by regaining hope, knowing that someone—especially young people—cares about them.
Based on my experience, when people know someone cares, it rekindles hope. That’s the deeper value of this work.
I invite anyone reading this to visit Amity or any school involved with Team Oregon Build. See firsthand what investing in the next generation looks like—students learning, building and changing lives.
- John Stearns
Construction Trades Educator, Amity High School
2024 Winner, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence
As TOB continues, the initiative stands as a beacon for how state agencies, Tribes and industry can work in synergy, addressing pressing challenges while building a stronger and more resilient future for Oregon.
Please contact Jim Taylor: [email protected] for more information about agency engagement to support Team Oregon Build
Or start a chat with Team Oregon Build by clicking the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.