WHAT IS THE ACADEMY
WITH A CAPACITY OF 250 STUDENTS, High School Juniors and Seniors, The Academy of Craft Training is a public/private partnership between the commercial construction industry and the State of Alabama’s K-12 Career and Technical Education System. Our mission is to recruit, educate and guide high school students for educational and employment opportunities in the construction industry. Our goal is to help these students get the education and skills they need to be entry-level, skilled workers in the construction industry. Students can learn directly from construction industry professionals in a workplace environment, work as interns with local construction companies and receive job offers upon graduation.
ACT provides students with opportunities to learn the appropriate trades and skills to enter the commercial construction industry immediately following high school. These are high-demand jobs that can be long and productive career paths for our graduates.
WHAT IS THE ACADEMY
OF CRAFT TRAINING?
WITH A CAPACITY OF 250 STUDENTS, High School Juniors and Seniors, The Academy of Craft Training is a public/private partnership between the commercial construction industry and the State of Alabama’s K-12 Career and Technical Education System. Our mission is to recruit, educate and guide high school students for educational and employment opportunities in the construction industry. Our goal is to help these students get the education and skills they need to be entry-level, skilled workers in the construction industry. Students can learn directly from construction industry professionals in a workplace environment, work as interns with local construction companies and receive job offers upon graduation.
ACT provides students with opportunities to learn the appropriate trades and skills to enter the commercial construction industry immediately following high school. These are high-demand jobs that can be long and productive career paths for our graduates.
THE TRADES
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
Install and maintain the electrical systems and wiring in our businesses, factories and homes. Blueprints are used to determine the location of circuits, outlets, load centers and panel boards, while ohmmeters, ammeters, voltmeters and other equipment are used to test connections and ensure that components are compatible and safe.
Install, service and repair heating and air conditioning systems in commercial buildings, including sheet metal ductwork.
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry for vats, tanks, and floors.
Needed in many areas of commercial construction from structural welding for steel erection to mechanical piping systems. Welding also requires math skills and the ability to read detailed spec sheets and blue prints.
THE TRADES
Building Construction
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying, and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments.
Electrical
Install and maintain the electrical systems and wiring in our businesses, factories and homes. Blueprints are used to determine the location of circuits, outlets, load centers and panel boards, while ohmmeters, ammeters, voltmeters and other equipment are used to test connections and ensure that components are compatible and safe.
HVAC
Install, service and repair heating and air conditioning systems in commercial buildings, including sheet metal ductwork.
Interior & Exterior Finishes
Build stone structures, such as piers, walls, and abutments. Lay walks, curbstones, or special types of masonry for vats, tanks, and floors.
Welding & Piping
Needed in many areas of commercial construction from structural welding for steel erection to mechanical piping systems. Welding also requires math skills and the ability to read detailed spec sheets and blue prints.
THE TRAINING
ACADEMY OF CRAFT TRAINING UTILIZES NCCER CURRICULUM The craft areas utilize The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum for each specific craft area. NCCER was developed with the support of more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders who united to revolutionize training for the construction industry. Sharing the common goal of developing a safe and productive workforce, these companies created a standardized training and credentialing program for the industry.
NCCER ALLOWS CREDITS TO BE EARNED The Academy of Craft Training offers an unique opportunity for first year students in the program to receive 3 credits at the end of the school year. The students will participate in courses each semester pertaining to their skill of interest as well as receive a math credit. This math credit will count as their fourth math and will meet the requirements for the Alabama High School Diploma. Please refer to the example to the right to give you a better idea of how ones schedule would look.
THE TRAINING
ACADEMY OF CRAFT TRAINING
UTILIZES NCCER CURRICULUM
The craft areas utilize The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum for each specific craft area. NCCER was developed with the support of more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders who united to revolutionize training for the construction industry. Sharing the common goal of developing a safe and productive workforce, these companies created a standardized training and credentialing program for the industry.
NCCER ALLOWS CREDITS TO BE EARNED
The Academy of Craft Training offers an unique opportunity for first year students in the program to receive 3 credits at the end of the school year. The students will participate in courses each semester pertaining to their skill of interest as well as receive a math credit. This math credit will count as their fourth math and will meet the requirements for the Alabama High School Diploma. Please refer to the example to the right to give you a better idea of how ones schedule would look.
OUR INDUSTRY INSTRUCTORS
I started in association management with ACEC in 2006 and then joined ABC Alabama in 2012. In 2015, I helped create the Academy of Craft Training (ACT) in Birmingham. Since 2016, I've been involved in ACT operations and currently serve as Campus Director in Decatur. ACT is making a difference in the construction industry by training skilled craftspeople to fill Alabama's workforce gap.
Charles Hall
Director of Operations
Matthew Oldacre
Building Construction Instructor
My journey in the HVAC industry began in 2016 when I joined a small HVAC company during my high school years. It didn't take long for me to realize my passion for the construction industry, so I made the decision to dual enroll in college to fully immerse myself in this field. I received my degree in HVACR from Gadsden State Community College in 2019. I became a licensed HVAC contractor for the state of Alabama in 2022. Over the last three years, I've been deeply involved in the residential, commercial, and industrial areas, focusing on the installation and servicing of HVAC equipment. I've always had a desire to give back to this industry, and ACT has made that possible for me.
Reid McCord
HVAC Instructor
I'm a third-generation welder with 15 years of experience. I learned welding at Earnest Pruett Center of Technology during my time at Scottsboro High School and earned an Associate's degree in Welding Technology from North-West Shoals Community College. I also taught welding for 4 ½ years through the Alabama Community College System and the Alabama Department of Education. I'm a Scottsboro, Alabama native, a husband, and a father to Robert and Karlianne. Teaching is my passion, and I'm proud to be part of the ACT family.
Thomas Holcomb
Welding Instructor
Wade Sharpe
Electrical InstructorI started in association management with ACEC in 2006 and then joined ABC Alabama in 2012. In 2015, I helped create the Academy of Craft Training (ACT) in Birmingham. Since 2016, I've been involved in ACT operations and currently serve as Campus Director in Decatur. ACT is making a difference in the construction industry by training skilled craftspeople to fill Alabama's workforce gap.
Charles Hall
Director of OperationsMatthew Oldacre
Building Construction InstructorMy journey in the HVAC industry began in 2016 when I joined a small HVAC company during my high school years. It didn't take long for me to realize my passion for the construction industry, so I made the decision to dual enroll in college to fully immerse myself in this field. I received my degree in HVACR from Gadsden State Community College in 2019. I became a licensed HVAC contractor for the state of Alabama in 2022. Over the last three years, I've been deeply involved in the residential, commercial, and industrial areas, focusing on the installation and servicing of HVAC equipment. I've always had a desire to give back to this industry, and ACT has made that possible for me.
Reid McCord
HVAC InstructorI'm a third-generation welder with 15 years of experience. I learned welding at Earnest Pruett Center of Technology during my time at Scottsboro High School and earned an Associate's degree in Welding Technology from North-West Shoals Community College. I also taught welding for 4 ½ years through the Alabama Community College System and the Alabama Department of Education. I'm a Scottsboro, Alabama native, a husband, and a father to Robert and Karlianne. Teaching is my passion, and I'm proud to be part of the ACT family.
Thomas Holcomb
Welding InstructorWade Sharpe
Electrical InstructorI started in association management with ACEC in 2006 and then joined ABC Alabama in 2012. In 2015, I helped create the Academy of Craft Training (ACT) in Birmingham. Since 2016, I've been involved in ACT operations and currently serve as Campus Director in Decatur. ACT is making a difference in the construction industry by training skilled craftspeople to fill Alabama's workforce gap.
Charles Hall
Director of OperationsMatthew Oldacre
Building Construction InstructorMy journey in the HVAC industry began in 2016 when I joined a small HVAC company during my high school years. It didn't take long for me to realize my passion for the construction industry, so I made the decision to dual enroll in college to fully immerse myself in this field. I received my degree in HVACR from Gadsden State Community College in 2019. I became a licensed HVAC contractor for the state of Alabama in 2022. Over the last three years, I've been deeply involved in the residential, commercial, and industrial areas, focusing on the installation and servicing of HVAC equipment. I've always had a desire to give back to this industry, and ACT has made that possible for me.
Reid McCord
HVAC InstructorI'm a third-generation welder with 15 years of experience. I learned welding at Earnest Pruett Center of Technology during my time at Scottsboro High School and earned an Associate's degree in Welding Technology from North-West Shoals Community College. I also taught welding for 4 ½ years through the Alabama Community College System and the Alabama Department of Education. I'm a Scottsboro, Alabama native, a husband, and a father to Robert and Karlianne. Teaching is my passion, and I'm proud to be part of the ACT family.
Thomas Holcomb
Welding InstructorWade Sharpe
Electrical InstructorOUR EDUCATION LEADERS
I've dedicated my career to education and leadership, with roles as a special education teacher and high school counselor in Morgan County Schools. I hold a B.S. in Special Education from Athens State, an M.Ed. in School Counseling, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of West Alabama. Outside of work, I'm happily married to a teacher and coach, and we have two sports-loving boys. My passion in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is helping students find meaningful employment, particularly in the commercial construction industry, through my work at ACT.
Tosha Banks
Counselor
I've dedicated my career to education and leadership with roles in Career Tech Administration, Work-Based Learning Coordination, and Career Tech Consultation in Cullman City and Cullman County Schools. My educational background includes a B.S. in Agriscience Education from Auburn University, an M.Ed., and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In Career and Technical Education, I'm passionate about guiding students into the workforce, particularly in the commercial construction industry, which I've had the opportunity to do at ACT.
Haynes Riddle
Education DirectorI've dedicated my career to education and leadership, with roles as a special education teacher and high school counselor in Morgan County Schools. I hold a B.S. in Special Education from Athens State, an M.Ed. in School Counseling, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of West Alabama. Outside of work, I'm happily married to a teacher and coach, and we have two sports-loving boys. My passion in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is helping students find meaningful employment, particularly in the commercial construction industry, through my work at ACT.
Tosha Banks
CounselorI've dedicated my career to education and leadership with roles in Career Tech Administration, Work-Based Learning Coordination, and Career Tech Consultation in Cullman City and Cullman County Schools. My educational background includes a B.S. in Agriscience Education from Auburn University, an M.Ed., and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In Career and Technical Education, I'm passionate about guiding students into the workforce, particularly in the commercial construction industry, which I've had the opportunity to do at ACT.
Haynes Riddle
Education DirectorI've dedicated my career to education and leadership, with roles as a special education teacher and high school counselor in Morgan County Schools. I hold a B.S. in Special Education from Athens State, an M.Ed. in School Counseling, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of West Alabama. Outside of work, I'm happily married to a teacher and coach, and we have two sports-loving boys. My passion in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is helping students find meaningful employment, particularly in the commercial construction industry, through my work at ACT.
Tosha Banks
CounselorI've dedicated my career to education and leadership with roles in Career Tech Administration, Work-Based Learning Coordination, and Career Tech Consultation in Cullman City and Cullman County Schools. My educational background includes a B.S. in Agriscience Education from Auburn University, an M.Ed., and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In Career and Technical Education, I'm passionate about guiding students into the workforce, particularly in the commercial construction industry, which I've had the opportunity to do at ACT.
Haynes Riddle
Education DirectorFor Industry & Educational
Inquiries Contact
For Industry & Educational Inquiries Contact
Thanks to
Our Partners
Thanks to
Our Partners