Chuck is a retired CAD, Architecture, and Woodshop instructor dedicated to fostering creativity, technical skills, and a passion for craftsmanship in students. With a background in engineering and design, Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, integrating traditional woodworking techniques with modern computer-aided design tools. He has taught high school for 32 years at Chartiers Valley HS in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition, Chuck has also taught Welding, CAD, and Blueprint Reading at Carpenters Pittsburgh Training Center Pittsburgh, and CCAC community college.

I began my love for the woods industry at an early age. When I was 3 years old, my parents bought me a tool set which included a hand saw, hammer, and a couple of screwdrivers. In good conscience and effort I wanted to try them out. In doing so I sawed off one of the legs on my mothers dining room table, thus beginning my career in the woods industry.

As I grew older I never lost my passion for woodworking. I was always the one to help my father out with all fixes and remodeling around the house. I would spend my time after hours and on weekends with my Junior High shop teacher at the school shop working on projects. My Senior year in high school is when I built and completed my first house that my parents bought and lived in until they passed away.

After college I started working for a local cabinet maker to advance my knowledge in cabinetry finish trim work. I then married my beautiful wife and we started our own cabinet shop.

While I still owned and operated our business I began my career in teaching in 1986. I have been an industrial arts instructor until my retirement in 2021. My love for the wood industry still lingers on as I have recently come out of retirement to get back in the shop and classroom at Southwestern Heights in KS!

Steven Cortez has been a Career and Technical Education teacher for 33 years. With emphasis in Woodworking and Broadcasting his teaching career has been wide and varied. Through his years teaching he has boiled his main focus of teaching to one main important point - build relationships with students and the teaching will flow from there. Without the relationship component, true deep teaching rarely happens. He has loved giving back to the teaching profession and hopes this curriculum helps many teachers in their first few years of their career.