Paul Hallam of Indiana Named PHCC’s Plumbing Teacher of the 12 months

Honoring those that play an important function in growing tomorrow’s employees, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—Nationwide Affiliation (PHCC) named Paul Hallam, an excellent educator at Mechanical Abilities, Inc., in Indianapolis, Indiana, its 2022 Plumbing Teacher of the 12 months. The award—sponsored by PHCC Company Companion Milwaukee Instrument—was offered final week at PHCCCONNECT2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Michael Lorenzen accepted the award on Hallam’s behalf.)

An skilled classroom teacher, the transition to on-line instruction lately required some “out-of-the-box pondering,” introduced PHCC—Nationwide Joel Lengthy throughout the awards ceremony. Whereas most on-line programs are self-paced and teacherless, Mechanical Abilities created a face-to-face Zoom atmosphere to reflect a traditional classroom expertise. Along with educating technical facets, instructors additionally should get inventive to pique curiosity, encourage participation, and encourage their college students.

In that spirit, Hallam created a Fb group, encouraging college students to share images highlighting on-the-job accomplishments and “you gotta see this” moments. On this platform, he contains enjoyable images and hyperlinks to improve the educational expertise and keep engagement.

Hallam communicates commonly along with his college students through e-mail and social media and has established a robust private rapport with them. He begins his courses sharing real-life experiences and encourages his college students to share theirs.

“The engagement is exceptional,” says Hallam’s supervisor. “I’m all the time impressed by the variety of college students who keep after class every week to have further conversations and thank him for his efforts.” It is that management and dedication to college students and the plumbing business that make Hallam most deserving of this award.