Sawdust News October 2025
From One to Five: How Lyon County is Bringing Woodshop Back to Middle Schools.
For years, hands-on learning opportunities like woodshop were slowly pushed out of classrooms. After No Child Left Behind, many middle school CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs disappeared, leaving students without a vital space to explore creativity, problem-solve, or develop practical, life-long skills.
Now, Lyon County School District in Yerington, Nevada is rewriting that story. What began as a pilot program with Maplewoodshop in one middle school has grown into five thriving programs across the county. Their expansion proves that woodworking is more than a class—it’s a movement to restore engagement, boost attendance, connect math to life, and build early career awareness through hands-on learning tailored to every student.
Why Woodshop, Why Now?
One teacher put it best:
“This is what broke my heart when they rolled out No Child Left Behind and got rid of all those great MS CTE programs. Now they realize why knowing the Pythagorean theorem was important.”
— Jim Gionotti —
It’s clear that teachers and administrators in Lyon County recognized a gap. Students were learning math in theory but lacked opportunities to apply it in real life. They needed a space where academic skills connected to tangible projects, and where every student—no matter their background—could thrive.
From Pilot to County-Wide Adoption
The journey began with a single middle school piloting Maplewoodshop’s woodworking program. The results spoke for themselves: higher engagement, stronger collaboration, and renewed enthusiasm for learning.
Seeing that impact, Lyon County expanded the program to five middle schools this year. Administrators, teachers, and families rallied behind the idea that woodshop brings back something schools desperately need—practical, purpose-driven education.
Teacher Voices: What They See Every Day
The expansion isn’t just about numbers—it’s about students. Teachers shared why woodshop makes such a difference:
“One of the aspects I appreciated most was having such a diverse group of students in my classes. They came in with different backgrounds, interests, and skill levels, but the shop created an environment where everyone could find a place and a purpose. While the thrill of building something tangible was definitely exciting for them, what I found most rewarding were the life lessons that naturally emerged through the process. Problem-solving, collaboration, patience, persistence—these were the skills that stuck with them just as much, if not more, than the projects themselves.”
“Some of my most challenging students—the ones who often struggled with discipline, focus, or work ethic in other classes—thrived in woodshop. They showed up, engaged fully, and took pride in their work. The shop environment gave them an outlet where they could succeed, and that was powerful to see.”
“I especially loved hearing students say things like, ‘I didn’t know I was going to have to do so much math in this class.’ It showed that they were making real-world connections between academic concepts and practical application.”
— Lindsay Etter, Dayton Intermediate School. —
The Student Impact: Where Engagement Meets Purpose
Every new classroom equipped with woodworking tools becomes a place where:
Engagement increases—students are focused, excited, and driven by real results.
Attendance improves—students want to come to school because they see value in what they’re creating.
Math and science come alive—abstract concepts like angles, fractions, and geometry are put into practice.
Career awareness begins—students explore trades, design, engineering, and problem-solving as viable, fulfilling paths.
Lifelong skills like teamwork, perseverance, and communication are built every day.
This isn’t just about teaching woodworking—it’s about teaching life.
What Lyon County’s Story Means for Others
Lyon County’s expansion shows that it’s possible—and powerful—for schools to bring shop back. Their story is a model for districts everywhere that want to reintroduce CTE, connect academics to real-world skills, and create classrooms where all students belong.
Ready to Start Your Own Story?
If you’re an educator or administrator inspired by Lyon County’s success, let’s talk!
Because every student deserves the chance to build something that matters!