His passion? Transforming tomorrow. Whether it’s restoring an historic home to its original beauty or helping his students realize their peak potential, Jack appreciates the growth process. As a builder, instructor, and author, he takes pride in hard work and finds joy in the finished result.
Penn College is a school that makes the most of opportunities for students. I taught at another technical college for twelve years before joining the faculty team here. The difference I see at Penn College is that students graduate with a much more well-rounded education, gaining experience from other disciplines and really great prospects from career fairs, internships, and networking. I’m always amazed at how many doors are opened to the graduates of our programs.
The most rewarding part of my job is watching students’ skills, understanding, and passion for a trade develop during their time here as a student. It is so exciting to see the transformation from the first semester to the last. It is even more fulfilling when our graduates come back and share what they have been doing in the workforce.
Many parents ask what kind of career opportunities are out there for the graduates of our programs. One thing I appreciate about building construction is the variety and scope of possible career paths, from swinging a hammer to administration, sales, safety, education, insurance … small companies to large corporations, the possibilities are endless. Construction is such a huge part of our lives. It touches every industry in some way.
I think COVID demonstrated the value of a hands-on education. It showed us that, while many things can be performed online, there is no substitute for time spent building hands-on skills under the instruction of an instructor who has strong industry experience. Additionally, the skills learned from a hands-on education are relatable and apply to everyday life. One day each of our students will own or rent a home that needs care and maintenance. Even if they were to chose a career path that is outside the construction industry, the skills and principles they have learned here will be practical and useful for the rest of their lives.
The feedback I have heard has been overwhelmingly positive and generally is accompanied by those employers wanting to hire more of our graduates. The impression I get is that Penn College grads are well prepared and ambitious.
I really love being intentional about making memories with my family. Investing in those relationships is at the top of my priority list, from camping trips, to road trips, to finding unique things to do in the little moments; those are the really precious things in life. Currently, I am renovating my own home. I have nearly finished an addition and a deck, next up is remodeling old space into a master bedroom and new bathrooms. Additionally, I am writing a new textbook called Principles of Residential Construction which introduces students to the world of residential building construction. I am also working on my second textbook revision of the book Modern Carpentry (this will be the 14th edition of the book). Both are due to publish this October.
"I once had a student message me years after graduation to thank me for believing in him and for the time and attention I poured into him during his freshman year. That message has stuck with me and helped me to see the value of investing in students."
Jack Jones
Building Construction
Whether you’re drawn to the technology behind residential construction or have an interest in rising to management, there’s an opportunity waiting for you.