NILES — When Chris Inman left his job in the manufacturing industry to become a teacher, he did so because he knew there was a great need to inspire young people to have career paths in the field.

After 20 years of teaching at Brandywine High School, Inman has accomplished this goal, giving many the opportunity to find high paying jobs in the manufacturing industry, while also helping local businesses fill the need for skilled workers.

On May 18, the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society recognized Inman for this success and his compassion in the field with the Programs of Outstanding Quality Award.

Each year for the award, MITES evaluates technical education programs across the state that provide exemplary classroom instruction. This year, Inman received the award alongside two other recipients, including Chuck Luchies, of Coloma High School and Nathan Stoven at Newaygo County Career Tech Center.   

Inman was nominated for the award by fellow Brandywine teachers Angie Mellott and Pat Stier. He described receiving the award as a great opportunity to recognize Brandywine.

“It was exciting,” Inman said. “I think it was big for the school to be chosen as one of the top three programs in the state this year. That’s huge.”

Around Berrien County, local manufacturers are still in desperate need of finding skilled workers to fill positions, Inman said.

“It’s extreme. I have more companies looking than I have students to give them,” Inman said.

This need combined with skills students can learn in Inman’s class almost guarantees that they will get a job. Students in his 2017 classes had a 96 percent job placement rate.

“The majority of my students, they all go on to local companies around here,” Inman said. “The companies around here provide them with a high paying job in machining, tool and die.”

Right out of high school, Inman said students can make between $10 to $12 and often times, the same local company that gave the student a job will also offer to cover the cost of higher education in his experience, Inman said. After attending a four-year college, Inman said graduates could earn $18 to $23 an hour.

“These students are unique, because they are not going off to large universities. Instead, they are staying in the community,” Inman said.

Inman credited a lot of this success to the partnerships he has formed with many of the local businesses and Lake Michigan College. He said a number of those businesses have donated money to the school so that he can purchase new parts or equipment, while also offering his students apprenticeships and other opportunities in the field.

“They [the local manufacturing businesses] know that these are quality students coming out of the program,” Inman said.

Through machine shop classes with Inman, students learn how to operate machinery used by a number of local manufacturers. Inman also helps students grasp engineering concepts and use what they have taught to create products of their own design. For example, to stop intruders in schools, one student created a metal device that can be slipped under a classroom door and keep it closed, utilizing a metal arm that wedges against the wall.

Inman also seeks to familiarize students with job expectations. To do so, he hosts regular meetings, similar to the weekly meetings one might experience in an office. He also assigns his students deadlines and requires them to call off when they are sick.

Inman said he hopes for more students to become aware of these opportunities offered through machine shop classes.

In the semesters to come, Inman said he hopes more students learn about all the opportunities that are available through machine shop classes at Brandywine.

“There are so many students that don’t know these classes exist,” Inman said. “We do shared time, so I can get students from Niles High School and Buchanan [but] typically, I only get a few. I wish there would be more.”