Dozens of students have spent the past week hard at work on practice roofs throughout the city learning skills that could land them high-demand jobs.<\/p>\n
Dallas College\u2019s free, week-long roofing bootcamp ends Friday with companies interviewing and possibly hiring new graduates. Across several of the school\u2019s campuses, nearly 60 students attended classroom and hands-on courses in roof installation, sales and marketing, and office administration.<\/p>\n
George Barrera has his own construction business and is a roofing instructor at Dallas College\u2019s South Dallas Training Center. With 26 years of experience, he teaches students basic roofing construction that includes how to do sails, lay out the shingles, lay the drip edge and underlayment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re here for,\u201d he said, \u201cto prepare them for the real world out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
A recent workforce survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and National Center for Construction Education and Research found more than 90% of companies with job openings reported difficulty finding qualified workers amid a national labor shortage.<\/p>\n
Tony Ledford\u2019s ready to learn \u2013 and ready for a new opportunity. Before joining Barrera\u2019s class, he struggled with drugs and jail. He was recently released. The father of a four year-old daughter, Ledford wants to build a better life for her with this new career.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was kind of a real eye opener for me,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve got to make some changes, do some right things. So I want to get a proper education and start making some right choices so I can be a good father.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dallas College coordinator Latonua Walker said graduates of this bootcamp can earn $40,000 a year and up. She said at Friday\u2019s graduation at the Bill Priest Center, there\u2019ll be roofing companies ready to interview students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose companies are actively looking for employees,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
She expects another free bootcamp to be organized for February.<\/p>\n
Bill Zeeble is KERA\u2019s education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at bzeeble@kera.org<\/a>. You can follow him on X\u00a0@bzeeble<\/a>.<\/p>\n KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider\u00a0making a tax-deductible gift today<\/a>. Thank you.<\/p>\n