L to R: Richard Whitehead, Dawit Kelay and Taylor Stafford learn about a miter saw with Mr. Flanagan.

The Joliet Job Corps Center has a new Building Construction Technology instructor.

Chris Flanagan joined the team on Jan. 6, but he already knows quite a bit about the program — in 2005, he was a student at the Atterbury Job Corps Center in Edinburgh, Indiana. Mr. Flanagan studied Building Construction Technology.

“At the time, I had many of the skills, but I needed the certifications offered by the Job Corps program,” he explained.

Mr. Flanagan’s former instructor recommended him for the position in Joliet. “He said, ‘It’s a rewarding job. You can really help people and ultimately change their lives,” Mr. Flanagan said.

So he and his family moved from Indiana to Joliet. Mr. Flanagan and his wife, Daniele, met at the Atterbury Center, and they have three children.

On Thursday, Mr. Flanagan and his students worked on several projects. They were building a “training station,” a large wooden box that would be used during lessons on how to install floor tiles. The students would be able to sharpen their skills by arranging the tiles inside the shallow container, Mr. Flanagan said. As the students built the box, he showed them the correct way to use their tools, speaking to them quietly but confidently.

Mr. Flanagan truly believes in the Job Corps Program.

“I know for sure the program works. I want to see more students take advantage of the program and I want to be a part of their decision to do that,” Mr. Flanagan said.