Answer extracted from the Building PA Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How can TechCentro find qualified instructors for construction trades programs?
The primary challenge is recruiting instructors willing to work part-time or full-time positions. TechCentro needs people who can evaluate adult learners, identify their gaps, and teach critical problem-solving and thinking skills—not necessarily people with prior teaching experience, but those with the right mindset and hands-on trade expertise.
Instructor recruitment sits at the heart of TechCentro's construction trades expansion. Robert Torres, the director overseeing the operation in Midtown Harrisburg, is actively rethinking staffing models to solve this bottleneck. Rather than waiting passively for teaching credentials, Torres is open to hiring skilled trade workers who possess the ability to communicate, evaluate learners honestly, and guide problem-solving—competencies that matter more than a formal pedagogy degree.
The challenge becomes sharper when you consider the adult learner population TechCentro serves. These aren't students sitting in traditional classrooms; many are career-changers, people recovering from job loss, or individuals seeking their first stable foothold in skilled trades. As Torres explains in the full episode, instructors must be able to recognize weaknesses in adult learners and adapt teaching to address them—a skill that transcends typical trade certification.
"I want people to understand how to problem solve, the critical thinking behind problem solving. That to me would be someone attractive to hire."
Robert Torres — Director, TechCentro Capital Region. Torres leads the Harrisburg center's workforce development operations, overseeing adult basic education, occupational training, allied health careers, and skilled trades programs modeled after Lancaster's successful centers that have operated for more than 10 years.
Torres is also exploring flexible scheduling options. One consideration is whether offering full-time instructor positions becomes viable if those instructors teach multiple classes across different shifts—a practical compromise that could attract working professionals without forcing them to abandon their trade entirely. This hybrid model reflects a realistic understanding of instructor supply constraints in a competitive labor market where skilled tradespeople are already in high demand elsewhere.
For anyone interested in learning more about how TechCentro plans to staff these programs, including deeper insights into their hiring philosophy and timeline, the full conversation covers the practical steps Torres is taking right now.
Why instructor fit matters more than formal credentials
The trades have always operated differently from academia. A master electrician or HVAC technician may never have stepped foot in a teaching college, yet they possess decades of problem-solving experience that no certification program can replicate. TechCentro's approach flips the hiring conversation: instead of asking "Do you have a teaching license?" the center asks "Can you identify where an adult learner is struggling and guide them through the fix?"
This reframing opens the talent pool significantly. Trade workers who might have dismissed teaching as "not for them" suddenly become viable candidates. The barrier is not credentials—it's finding people with the patience and communication skills to translate expertise into adult learning, something that varies widely regardless of formal background. Torres recognizes this and is building recruitment strategies around it.
See also
What specific trade programs does TechCentro offer or plan to offer?
TechCentro offers and plans to offer facilities maintenance, plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, electromechanical, welding, and renewable energy solar training.
How many TechCentro locations exist and where is the Harrisburg center modeled from?
There are six TechCentro locations total. The Harrisburg center is modeled after Lancaster's centers, which have been operating for more than 10 years.
What is TechCentro and what makes it unique as a workforce development program?
TechCentro is a bilingual workforce development center offering adult basic education, employment services, and occupational training in allied health and skilled trades.