Construction trades teacher and construction club sponsor Douglas Sowash keeps everyone safe while expanding their knowledge.

“My main thing is to make sure my students work safely in the shop, and we have to learn how to do certain tasks in the classroom,” Sowash said. “Once they learn how to use the tools in the shop, then they go ahead and learn how to do certain projects.”

Along with working in the shop, students can gain different certifications for the workforce and credits for college.

Sowash has been teaching at CPHS for three years but has taught at schools before coming to Crown Point. He became a teacher so he could pass on his knowledge and grant students the opportunity to pursue a career or learn how to build for themselves.

“I’ve been teaching for a long time. I wanted to pass on my knowledge to other people so I don’t lose it, and they can gain information,” Sowash said.

When not teaching at CPHS, Sowash works at Ivy Tech and stays busy at home.

“I teach at night for Ivy Tech,” Sowash said. “If I’m not teaching at night then I’m with my grandson or I’m doing grading or something, I am always busy doing something or work in my own house.”

Sowash tries every day to keep his classroom positive while helping students learn.

“I try to keep it positive by helping them understand that this is basically a workplace and that they have to learn how to adjust to my class so they get ready for real life, and we just try to make it fun,” Sowash said.

Between industrial tech, construction club, and Ivy Tech, Sowash tries his best to help gain skills in all things industrial.