The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Technology Education program recently welcomed a new coordinator. Duane Elfering started full-time as the technology education coordinator last fall after first joining the university in 2020 as an adjunct professor in Construction Management.
As the technology education coordinator, Elfering’s goal is to the grow the program.
“[The tech ed program] is a feeder program,” said Elfering on the importance of the program. “Applying core classes from the program will help students better understand so that they can fill the skills gap which, in turn, will help with the labor shortage.”
Elfering earned his Bachelor of Science in technology education and Master of Science in industrial vocational training at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He taught technology education in Barneveld, Wisconsin, for 30 years and has been a general contractor for 25 years, hiring many former students. He also teaches a construction academy for Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 3 high school students.
“Teaching is a great career,” said Elfering. “More students would consider a career in teaching if they received proper guidance. [As a teacher] it’s important to talk to students, show them what you’ve done.”
In addition to teaching, Elfering also farms a few hundred acres and about a hundred head of livestock. Two of his children are even following in their father’s footsteps. One daughter teaches tech ed construction and automotive and another daughter is currently a tech ed major at UW-Platteville.