At Continuing Education and Workforce Training (CEWT), we use instructors with specific work experience in the field. Having experienced instructors provides current industry practices that inform students more fully. Faces of CEWT highlights some of our finest instructors and staff to give you insight into the ‘sweet’ people who work here.

Some instructors have been with CEWT for many years and are committed to helping others succeed. Todd Wilding knows this well, having taught the first year and second year electrical apprenticeship courses for over 14 years.

Wilding, who also works as an electrical inspector, knows exactly what things students should be aware of as electricians.

In his electrical apprenticeship classes, students learn the basics of how different parts of electrical theory come together. Once they have finished their weekly electrical courses, students get further training at their jobs under the watchful eye of a journeyman electrician.

During that on-site training, the journeyman contractor provides additional hands-on experience with electricity, and gives them an understanding of how to apply the tools of the trade.

In Wilding’s time teaching for CEWT, he has seen the program grow and develop technologically. “We are always changing the course, because we are always looking for better ways to present [the class] to our students,” Wilding said.

In the last couple of years, for example, the program has began to implement streaming and hosting class lectures online. This way, if students need to re-listen to a lecture, or if they happen to miss a day of class, or are struggling to grasp a concept, they can easily access the class whenever and wherever they need it.

Wilding has enjoyed teaching these classes and hopes that students get the most out of these classes.

“What I’d hope [students] learn the most is the basic understanding of electricity, how it moves and what it does,” said Wilding. “Also I’d hope [they] learn the safety issues because it is kind of dangerous dealing with electricity.”

According to Wilding, one of the most rewarding parts of teaching these classes is when he is working as an inspector and sees his past students. “As they’ve turned out to be journeymen, [I get to] see how they’ve [grown] throughout the years,” Wilding said.

“Todd is an exceptional instructor for us,” said Gary Salazar, the current director of CEWT. “He is knowledgeable and wants to see his students succeed. Todd has really taken to the streaming functionality we offer and we are lucky to have him. The students are lucky to have him.”

If interested in signing up for training courses, visit cetrain.isu.edu to check out our catalog or call us at (208) 282-3372.