Lynn Romagnoli: My name is Lynn Romagnoli and I am the Instructional Leader with JobForward. We are here this afternoon with Andrew Lutton, who is one of our instructors who delivers the related technical instruction piece of the apprenticeship.
Hi, Andrew. How are you?
Andrew: I’m doing well. Thank you.
Lynn: So, Andrew, before we get started, how long have you been with JobForward?
Andrew: I have to think back on that. Over 10 years. I think we’re getting to 11 or 12 years now.
Lynn: Great! Have you always been in the role of instructor?
Andrew: Yes. Since I finished school, I came to work for JobForward as an intern originally and then moved into my role as an instructor, and I’ve been doing that ever since.
Lynn: Okay. Great. So I’m going to ask you a couple of apprentice-related questions. So how has your life been impacted by your role as an instructor?
Andrew: How hasn’t it been impacted? This role has been transformative for me. Our students come from all different backgrounds and learn in so many different ways. Working with them throughout their apprenticeship, including adjusting my teaching methods, meeting them where they were, taught me a level of patience and adaptability I had never developed before. When they finally grasp the material and I can see their confidence growing, those are like the most rewarding moments of my career, really.
I’d say working in this role has made me a more empathetic and creative problem solver, and it’s not just in the classroom, but really in every area of my life. This role has given me a really deep sense of purpose, and knowing that I can help shape someone’s future really motivates me each day.
Lynn: Wow. That’s pretty impactful.
Andrew: Yeah, it’s really transformed my life working in this role.
Lynn: I do remember those moments in the classroom when someone gets it and the light bulb goes on.
Andrew: It’s so exciting. And you can see that light bulb turn on, especially for those who really struggle, but when they finally get it, that aha moment, I live for that.
Lynn: So from an instructor’s perspective, what attributes do most successful apprentices have? And what do you notice in those that may not make it entirely through the program?
Andrew: Well, let’s see, I’d say the ones that are most successful have just a few things in common. One of the most important attributes, I would say, is curiosity. You know, they’re constantly trying to understand the things that we’re teaching in the class. These are the ones who are not just memorizing the steps that we’re teaching, but really trying to dig deeper, to understand why processes are the way they are, why things work the way they do.
They grow the fastest because they’re really attempting to build a real understanding and not just use muscle memory or memorize steps. Another really important attribute would be reliability and consistency. What I mean by that is just showing up on time and being prepared and doing the work, even if it’s not the most exciting work.
The apprentices that treat this like a professional commitment from the first day are the ones that build the most momentum and find they’re the ones that get the farthest. And kind of related to that is resilience. Learning a new skill in any condition is difficult, right? And there’s always challenges to overcome.
So whether it’s a tough exam or a bunch of homework you have to work through or even just balancing your home life with apprenticeship, those that are able to push through those tough moments are the ones standing at the end with the credential in hand.
Lynn: Wow. I always remember that, as instructors, we can’t want it more than the apprentice.
Andrew: They have to want it more. Yeah. Our programs are pretty demanding sometimes and you really do have to want it in order to really find success.
Lynn: Great. Great. So you’ve spent the better part of the last 10 or 11 years delivering lessons to your apprentices, but what are some lessons you have learned from your apprentices?
Andrew: Wow. I’ve learned so much from them. One of the biggest lessons is that everyone learns differently. So if I explain a concept and I get a bunch of blank stares, then I can go ahead and explain it in a completely different way. And then you can see those light bulbs come on that we were talking about earlier.
So earlier in my career, I might have even gotten frustrated by that, but now it’s more like a puzzle that I need to work out. So how do I get this to land for this particular person? My apprentices have forced me to become more flexible and creative and resourceful as an educator. And that’s actually, as I said before, has made me better at everything in my life.
Another big one is that authenticity matters. Students can really tell. They have an incredible radar for anything that feels forced or insincere. And it’s really important to be able to admit when I don’t know something or when I’ve made a mistake. And being able to do so actually builds more trust with the apprentices than pretending to have all those answers when I don’t.
So again, this is another thing that I’ve taken outside of my career and into my life and it’s improved everything, not just made me a better educator.
Lynn: Wow. So it really seems that apprenticeship has seeped into your personal life as well as your professional life.
Andrew: Absolutely.
Lynn: Well, thank you so much for answering these questions. The apprentices are lucky to have you as such a dedicated instructor.
Andrew: Well, thank you. I feel like I’m really lucky to have them.
Lynn That’s right. That is true. Thank you, Andrew.
Andrew: Thank you.