English Valleys instructor featured in newsletter

The new architecture, construction and engineering instructor at English Valleys, Marty Baker, is featured in the summer newsletter of Kirkwood Community College, Iowa County.

Baker teaches construction lab, architectural plans and specs and construction safety, the newsletter says.

Baker is in his second year of teaching. “I enjoy getting to see students progress in their abilities to read plans and produce a project or building,” Baker says in the newsletter.

“It is a very cool process to watch students gain the skills as they get more experience with actually getting to use tools and get hands-on experience.

“I was moved toward teaching in high school,” Baker said. “I had an Ag teacher, Alyssa Amelon, that got me interested in teaching.”

Lucas Troyer, at Mid-Prairie High School, and Mike Kubas, Baker’s high school Kirkwood Academy instructor, contributed to Baker’s decision to pursue teaching industrial tech.

“They both helped me to discover my passion for working with my hands in the trades areas,” he said.

“I think the ability to get college credit in high school is a great opportunity for students today to get a leg up in their college readiness as well as explore different areas to see what they are truly interested in,” Baker said.