Investing in the Next Generation of Builders

By Kimberly Winter Stern

Josh Jacobs recalls the unexpected reaction from students several years ago after entering his Liberty High School industrial technology class into the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s Parade of Playhouses.

“That first year, about 20 students built a simple, Colonial-style playhouse with framed walls, a roof, real shingles, plywood panel siding and non-working windows,” Jacobs said. “It was exploratory to see if that type of hands-on team project resonated with kids.”

Jacobs, a 2005 graduate of Liberty High School, is entering his seventh year of teaching. A self-described hybrid educator, designer and fabricator, he was overwhelmed with positive feedback from the playhouse construction teams. 

“Most students mentioned the Parade of Playhouses as a favorite activity. Seniors who graduated wanted to help with the next playhouse build. A couple of students discovered they were interested in a career in the construction trades.”

Jacobs, whose background is in theatrical set design and construction, whose professional experience ranges from framing to finish, and who is passionate about teaching and building, captured the skyrocketing enthusiasm and formed the Liberty High School Construction Science Club in 2023. 

“Because I teach traditional intro and advanced woodshop classes, I didn’t have access to common building tools and needed to separate that curriculum from individual projects like the playhouse,” he said. 

There were field trips, twice-yearly build days and a mock construction site outside the school’s woodshop. He approached KCHBA member companies that champion inspiring students to pursue construction careers, like Katherine Wilson of Malarkey Roofing Products and David Elliot of Construction & Planning Services, for donations of materials and expertise.

This spring, the KCHBA’s Home Builders Charitable Foundation gave the Liberty High School Construction Science Club a $2,000 grant, which Jacobs will use to invest in materials and tools and the 2025 Parade of Playhouses build. The Foundation has awarded nearly $65,000 to local schools and career centers since 2019.

“It removes the pressure to solicit materials from companies and not rely purely on donations,” he said. “Plus, the generous grant greatly increases the club’s efficacy. I’m grateful that the HBA recognizes how industrial technology classes can positively impact students’ choices when they graduate.”

Michelle Schneider, brand ambassador for MSI and chair of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation, cites the “hands-on, real-world experience the Liberty High School Construction Science Club offers” as a primary factor in awarding the club the grant. 

“That firsthand experience serves them well as they graduate and start careers in construction. 

“The experience the Liberty students receive, along with Mr. Jacobs’s one-on-one mentorship, is invaluable to their future and bolsters their confidence. This industry is not just about ‘swinging a hammer.’ There are many career options for these kids, and it’s imperative that educators build relationships with industry leaders and know the resources available to invest in their students accordingly.”

With a predicted shortfall of about 500,000 workers in the residential construction industry this year, workforce demand is high.

“We don’t discourage anyone from attending college but recognize it’s not for everyone,” Schneider said. “We want students and parents to understand other career paths, like the skilled trades, which have competitive pay and growth potential. Students can graduate high school with little to no debt, transferrable skills, advance in a company, or decide to start their own business—the sky’s the limit.”

Hayden Davis, 16, an incoming junior at Liberty High School, has enrolled in Jacobs’ woodworking classes since 8^th grade.

“When Mr. Jacobs presented the Construction Science Club, it sounded fun,” Davis said. “I love building things in his class and that he’s not necessarily interested in winning, but more focused on a project’s results and teamwork.”

Davis considers his immersive experiences in Jacobs’ class and club, combined with graduates returning as mentors to help with playhouse builds, as integral components of a foundation for his future career. 

“It’s cool to see how students who worked on the same projects as me are doing awesome things in their careers.”

Anna Stadler, 17, a senior at Liberty High School this fall, has taken Jacobs’s class since her freshman year, participating in the woodworking team and attending competitions. A second playhouse build during her sophomore year piqued her interest, especially in “getting tips from professionals mentoring us.” 

“We interact with men and women in the industry,” she said. “It’s super exciting to see careers available for women. I’m considering marketing or interior design in the construction industry.’

Like Davis, Stadler appreciates Jacobs’ emphasis on teamwork and leadership development and values his supportive nature.

“I designed a nightstand, and it had a few structural issues,” she said. “Mr. Jacobs coached me and made sure it was mostly my project—it was important to him that I had ownership.”

Katie Lawson, who works in a local school district and has a son, Brooks, age 16, in Jacobs’ class and a member of the Construction Science Club, attended a luncheon for the Parade of Houses. There, she learned more about what the KCHBA does in the community and how it works with students, teaching them about the many roles available in the construction industry.

“Brooks is interested in getting into construction management, and it’s critical to me that he has real and relevant learning while going to school,” she said. “He gets meaningful glimpses of college and career skills through meeting people in the trades. Hats off to the HBA for investing in the next generation and ensuring they show kids various viable career options.”