On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ), in conjunction with the Carpenter Contractor Trust (CCT), presented a Learning Lab as part of the New Jersey School Boards Association’s (NJSBA) 2025 Workshop held in Atlantic City.

The Learning Lab discussed pathways to construction in the classroom, including vocational schools and degree-related programs in higher education, and was led by ACCNJ Chief Operating Officer Jill Schiff and Education Manager Shamara Gatling-Davila. CCT, represented by Workforce Development Coordinator Dan Wright,  discussed the benefits of apprenticeship in the trades and how to incorporate these concepts into the classroom. 

“At ACCNJ’s Learning Lab, we were thrilled to dispel the myth that a career in the trades means closing the door on higher education and the traditional classroom setting,” said Jill Schiff, COO, ACCNJ. “Access to vocational classroom electives, career path exploration, and apprenticeship programs allow tradespeople to get the support and resources they need to thrive in the New Jersey construction industry.”

One program highlighted was Career Connections, a pre-apprenticeship curriculum designed for high school students that prepares them for advanced training in a registered United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) apprenticeship program. Students can apply for up to 16 college credits after program completion. 

The Learning Lab also detailed the 14 labor unions that represent employees in the building trades and their focus on construction and building our nation's infrastructure. From general and residential carpenters to cabinetmakers or piledrivers, the Lab demonstrated the resources and training available for the many crafts within the construction vocation.

The theme of NJSBA’s Workshop this year was “Your Ticket to Big Ideas and Bright Futures,” and ACCNJ took a Gold Sponsorship. During the Learning Lab, ACCNJ and CCT distributed their Construction Career Brochure, which contains information on degree-related construction programs, and a construction careers fact sheet with average starting salaries. 

“At ACCNJ, we share NJSBA’s sentiment that through hard work, determination and the power of a great education, New Jersey students can achieve their goals,” added Schiff.