Kirt Lawson built roads and bridges right out of high school, before going to college at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. After teaching for ten years in the Portage Township Schools, Kirt switched to his hometown in La Porte as a Building Trades teacher, where his construction experience and teaching degree came "in handy", no pun intended! 

The La Porte High School Building Trades Program was started in 1975 to show students that there was another way to make a living besides attending college, and there will always be a need for skilled workers. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the classes went from building houses to doing small projects around the community. Last year, the class had the opportunity to partner with Habitat for Humanity, after the city donated a large lot where the Timba Bakery was once located. The partnership helped both Habitat and the trades class meet their needs.

The students must be a Junior or Senior and be up to date on their credits to be accepted into the class. For the first time, they have a student from Westville High School. The class mainly meets at the build site, with occasional time in the classroom. The students that have the class for 2 years can apply to get into the Carpenters Union and start a career as soon as they graduate. Other students might go into other trades or attend college.

Kirt said the students will learn valuable skills during this project. The Habitat program has taught the students parts of the house and how it all goes together. It has also taught them soft skills such as being on time, preparation of tools, and teamwork. There is also the satisfaction of getting a small project complete and helping bring affordable housing to the community. The students are on their second of five homes to be built in the project. Previous students have gone on to start careers, businesses of their own, or higher education.

Those who know Kirt describe him as an exceptional human being and inspiring teacher!