For more than two decades, instructor Kris Sahr has been laying the groundwork for student success, teaching the fundamentals of machining while fostering confidence, curiosity, and craftsmanship. Through his Metals program, students gain a foundation they can build on for years to come.
The program’s curriculum mirrors coursework at Fox Valley Technical College, giving students who continue their education a strong head start. With two CNC mills, a CNC lathe, six manual lathes, and a dozen other machines, the shop hums with hands-on learning and discovery every day.
“Our program includes one of the few complete, industry-level machine shops found in a high school setting,” Sahr explains. “Students come into this class at all different levels. Some have parents or grandparents with a full metals shop at home, while others arrive with no prior experience, just a spark of interest. By the time they leave, they’ve built the skills and confidence to step into nearly any machine shop.”
In Metals 1, students explore sheet metal, welding, lathe work, and hand tools while completing practical projects that strengthen both technical ability and life skills. Metals 2 deepens those fundamentals and Metals 3 allows students to focus on individual interests such as machining, welding, or pipefitting. Students in the Metals program build a strong foundation in machining and fabrication through hands-on learning that connects directly to math, science, and real-world problem-solving.
“Every part of machining, from setting tool speeds and feeds that determine how fast and how deep the machine cuts, to choosing the right materials, relies on math and science,” Sahr explains. “It connects classroom learning directly to the work they do in the shop.”
Beyond classroom projects, students see how their skills make a difference in the community. From crafting parts for local projects to competing in SkillsUSA, these young machinists are putting their training to the test.
“Recently, my students and I made a replacement part for the Village of Kimberly,” Sahr shares. “Projects like that show the real-world value of what we teach.”
Interest in the Metals program continues to grow year after year. Mr. Sahr’s classes consistently fill up, showing how much students value the skills and experiences they gain. Many first hear about the program through friends or family members who have taken the class and middle school preview nights help inspire the next group of students to get involved.
Many students continue their studies at Fox Valley Technical College or NWTC, while others move directly into local manufacturing jobs, an industry always eager for skilled workers.
