“By investing early in middle school students, I plant seeds. Where those seeds grow is up to the students, but it’s my responsibility to give them the opportunity to discover what’s possible.“

Nathan Moyer teaches industrial technology and agricultural mechanics at Greenwood Middle/High School in Millerstown, Pennsylvania. Growing up, Moyer developed a passion for hands-on learning through FFA, high school trades courses, and practical building skills passed down from his father. He further sharpened his technical expertise through college coursework and agricultural research internships at the Russell E. Larson Research Farm. When a split position between industrial arts and agricultural science opened in his district, Moyer stepped into skilled trades education, dedicated to modeling curiosity, growth, and lifelong learning alongside his students.

Entering a shop filled with antiquated machinery, Moyer transformed the space into a modern, industry-aligned training facility by securing more than $160,000 in grant funding. Today, middle and high school students master advanced tools, including SawStop table saws, planers, jointers, MIG welders, and plasma cutters. Instruction begins with foundational safety and craftsmanship projects like push sticks before advancing to independent builds such as custom furniture, dining tables, and intricate metal sculptures. Moyer structured his program and opened his doors to invest early in middle school students to complete manufacturing and fabrication projects. Through digital workflow plans and rigorous shop maintenance, Moyer fosters student autonomy, pride, and essential problem-solving abilities.

 

Notes of Excellence

  • Business & Industry Alignment: Partners with 717 FabWorks, a local welding and metal fabrication shop, to provide critical supplies, employ a student fabricator, and build custom shop tables and multi-position test stands locally.
  • Key Program Impact: Reached maximum capacity with course requests exceeding limits by approximately 40%, including more than a dozen female students requesting woodworking and metal fabrication courses for the 2026-2027 academic year.
  • Outstanding Student Project: For his final project in Advanced Wood, a four-year shop student independently designed and fabricated a custom solid oak dining table—managing the entire lifecycle from initial sketches, cut lists, and process planning to precision joinery and final finishing, demonstrating four years of cumulative skill development, rigorous safety standards, and advanced craftsmanship.