You can hear Matt Graeve's woodshop before you ever reach the door. The whir of a sander, the tap of a mallet, the focused quiet in between — sounds that, once you know this classroom, you recognize as something more than noise. They're the sounds of dedicated middle schoolers doing something that genuinely matters to them.
Matt has been at Skinner Middle School for more than ten years, starting as a sixth grade science teacher before taking over the woodshop when the previous teacher retired. It has been one of the school's most sought-after classes ever since. Students compete for a spot, and those who land one tend to remember it for years.
Passion in Practice
What does being a passionate educator mean to Matt?
"It means energy and consistency. If kids see someone coming in with a positive attitude and good energy every day, consistently showing up for them, listening to them, supporting them. That is the best example of passion I can give them," he said.
That consistency shows up in the structure of every class. Students write their own goals at the start and reflect on them at the end. It's a simple habit that builds real planning and self-management skills, ones that transfer well beyond the shop. Matt is quick to point out that the thinking students develop here applies anywhere: science class, writing an essay or tackling a multi-step problem.
Responsibility and Collaboration
Working with hand tools and power tools means safety is a daily priority. Matt spends the first part of each semester building habits and expectations, making sure students know how to use every tool properly and how to look out for themselves and each other. But the groundwork he lays early in the year is only part of it. What keeps the shop running well is the culture of shared responsibility he builds over time.
"I talk to them a lot about how ‘it's not my shop, it's our shop,’" he said.
That ownership is real. Students watch out for each other, remind one another of safe practices, and step up without needing to be prompted. Matt sees it as one of the most important things that can happen in the room.
Collaboration is built into the class structure too. Matt trains designated student assistants who help their classmates work through challenges before bringing questions to him. Every student is moving through their project at their own pace, which means no two people are working on exactly the same thing at the same time. That setup pushes students to communicate, problem-solve together, and rely on each other in a way that doesn't happen as naturally in a traditional classroom. Matt celebrates every small win along the way, keeping the focus on progress and process rather than a perfect finished product.
Matt is also known for bringing the fun. He has a gift for nicknames, finding just the right one for every student. It's a small detail, but it reflects something real: Matt creates a space where students feel like they belong, even when the work is hard or the tools are unfamiliar.
Making Something That Matters
The projects in Matt's class are genuinely impressive: striped cutting boards, jewelry boxes, gumball machines, puzzles, picture frames, nameplates and toolboxes, among others. But what sticks with students is the thought behind what they've made.
"For a lot of kids, this is their one chance to make something like an heirloom that will hopefully last for a long time. They're thinking about their mom, their grandma, their dad, making it special for them,” he shared.
End-of-semester cutting boards have become a tradition that Skinner families talk about. Students think carefully about who they're making them for, what that person will cook, what it means to give something handmade. In a school day full of screens and digital assignments, that kind of focused, tangible work stands out.
Impact that Keeps Coming Back
A good measure of a teacher's impact is who comes back to say thank you. Matt has no shortage of those visits. One former student, now a teacher in DPS herself, told him that his eighth grade class was a turning point in her decision to go into education and it’s what made her decide to become a teacher for her career. Stories like that don't surprise the people who know his classroom, but they still mean a lot.
That's what's happening in Skinner's woodshop. And as Matt puts it: there should be a lot more programs like it.
"If we give kids a chance to try something and control a little bit of chaos, the results are insane. It's so valuable. It's really special,” he said.