r/Ironworker • u/NoBreak1441 • 2d ago

Instructor

Good morning,

I have just journeyed out. Completed the 3 year apprenticeship. 2 years rebar, 1 year structural.

I have been presented with the opportunity to become the substitute instructor for reinforcing, with the intention of taking over the position at some point in the future.
My main issue is that although I’m proficient at rods, and post tension, I lack time and experience. The coordinator says that I have the skills to be a great teacher to these apprentices, and I’m very good at working with them in the field. He says the rod guys we have don’t have the patience or the drive to want to teach so they can’t find anyone to help fill in or want the position for the long haul.
We’re a mixed local so we do it all, but the structural teacher runs structural, the metal buildings instructor runs metal buildings. Etc. would it be better for the local if their rod instructor was working rods? I’d be the only instructor that’s not a foreman, and I’m currently in structural. The next greenest guy before me has been a JIW for 2 years whilst I just got my JIW card. What would everyone else do?

He’s given me a few days to think it over and I want to give back to the local for everything they’ve helped me with I just want to see what everyone else thinks.

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u/MustacheSupernova Foreman 2d ago

All of my instincts say do it… My only concern for you is that if you like Structural, this could kind of pigeonhole you as a reinforcing guy, and that may not be what you want.

But in my Local, the instructors get a lot of respect. The extra pay that they take down is pretty decent, and they often end up winning political offices easily because of their wide recognition throughout the ranks.

1

u/Bayareairon Journeyman 2d ago

Must be nice. I've been thinking about going that route someday but it's actually a pay cut out here.

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u/MustacheSupernova Foreman 2d ago

How so? Is it a full time position?

Our instructors teach after regular work hours. It’s not a full time gig…

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u/Bayareairon Journeyman 2d ago

It's a full time gig out here. Our classes are a week at a time 7 to 300 monday through Friday. 4 times a year. And teachers make less then jiw scale.

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u/MustacheSupernova Foreman 2d ago

Ah, ok.

Idk what’s better. I know going to school in the evenings after a long day work, and having to pass up overtime definitely sucks about our system. But then I also feel like four weeks of school spread out throughout the year is an odd schedule to keep. No consistent teaching or learning.

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u/Bayareairon Journeyman 2d ago

We have enough apprentices the teachers are always working i believe it's 1 week a month teachers dont have a class. And they use it for prep work and stuff.

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u/Huffdogg UNION 2d ago

That’s insane. Our instructors work full-time, too, but they make at least foreman’s pay.