He glows : Christopher Roberts

Christopher Roberts knows that there is only so much a student can learn while sitting behind a desk. As a Construction Trades instructor with the Fort Wayne Community Schools’ (FWCS) Career Academy, he helps kids get the practical experience they need to graduate high school with more than a diploma.

“In every trade, there is a certification component – the specific training requirements that employers are looking for,” he said. “They want to know exactly what a student is qualified to do, and we help them achieve those benchmarks so they are ready to enter the workforce whether they go to college or not.”

The Career Academy serves about 850-900 students each year across 11 programs that offer industry certifications, licenses, and dual college credits to prepare them for in-demand jobs or give them a jump start on their post-secondary education. To recognize the local talent that the academy developed over the course of an academic year, Roberts implemented a yearend signing ceremony that is usually associated with student athletes. Last spring, 50 Career Academy students signed with a total of 38 local businesses and military units, which filled Roberts with a source of pride.

“Once upon a time, the Career Academy was considered to be a ‘drop out’ program, but now, in order to join you have to be on track to graduate,” he said. “As a result, we see a whole melting pot of kids who come to our programs, and it’s incredible to see them come together as a team in their subject areas.”

Roberts comes by his desire to help students learn something new and improve their occupational chances honestly. His mother was a preschool teacher for 40 years. His two brothers are educators. His sister is a college level professor, and although his father was in the construction business, he too had a teaching license and served as an athletic coach.

“Teaching is in my veins, and I am fortunate enough to have a job as a contractor that allows me to work with the Career Academy and help students find their niche,” he said. “If you meet them where they are and make them part of a team, you really get the best out of them. They come in with a natural curiosity about something and we nurture that curiosity, build a relationship, and get them ready to become the skilled workforce of the future. I’m lucky to be part of that.” a