“Skill can be developed, but it requires time, support, and belief. My role is not just to teach techniques, but to create an environment where students persist through productive struggle to realize their potential.”
Jim Dosky teaches construction at Cherry Creek Innovation Campus in Centennial, Colorado. Raised in a household that valued mechanical skill and persistence, he developed his own hands-on mindset by repairing non-running cars and working construction labor jobs. After earning an English degree, he balanced teaching high school English with summer framing work for nearly two decades while also completing a master’s degree in counseling. Seeking a more direct, practical pathway for students outside traditional college routes, he helped launch the school’s construction trades program. A fully credentialed CTE educator pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Equity and Learning Design, he was recognized as the 2023 SkillsUSA Colorado Advisor of the Year and his school’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Under his leadership, female enrollment has grown to 14.9%, and program demand has surged with dozens of students on the waitlist.
Dosky’s classroom balances exploratory learning with rigorous trade fundamentals in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, masonry, and plan reading. Students apply industry-standard tools, layout techniques, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, and building codes to authentic tasks. Through a flagship modular home build in the campus parking lot for Habitat for Humanity, students construct complete, code-compliant structures that are transported to local families. By pairing technical precision with intentional mentorship, extended practice, and dedicated SkillsUSA competition preparation, Dosky ensures learners transform initial setbacks into gold-medal craftsmanship and high-wage careers.
Notes of Excellence
- Business & Industry Alignment: JHL, a commercial general contractor and founding advisory board member, provides curriculum guidance, materials, and active site mentorship, including 40 paid student positions in a single summer.
- Key Program Impact: Out of approximately 500 students taught since the program’s inception, roughly 250 have secured direct employment in construction or related fields, including over 70 students placed into trade roles in summer 2026.
- Community Connection: In partnership with Habitat for Humanity Berthoud, students build full-scale modular houses from framing to interior finishes in the school parking lot to provide affordable, code-inspected homes for local families. They extend their impact by fundraising to furnish the house to support the family and create a home.