Students at the MiLL and in programs sponsored by the National Woods Board learn in an environment with modern equipment.
The National Woods Board (NWB) had a pivotal year in 2025. What started as a bold idea — to make high-quality woodworking education accessible, modern, and industry-driven — has evolved into a proven model that is gaining momentum across the country.
I’m excited to share where we are with our program, what we’ve accomplished with education and industry partners, and how we’re planning to scale our impact in 2026.
2025: Pilot program to proven pathway
In 2025, our primary focus was turning The MiLL Method from a promising curriculum into a repeatable, scalable program that schools and training centers can confidently adopt.
The MiLL Method is a four-level, project-based curriculum designed to move students from foundational skills to advanced woodworking and lean manufacturing practices:
- Foundations 1: Machine safety, core woodworking skills, basic joinery, and introduction to materials
- Foundations 2: Advanced joinery, traditional fine woodworking design, and value-added details
- Foundations 3: Arts & Crafts–inspired design and construction
- Foundations 4: Lean manufacturing concepts with a James Krenov design influence and a focus on real-world shop workflow.
Throughout 2025, we worked closely with schools, teachers, and industry employers to refine lesson plans, project sequencing, and assessments so that every component of the curriculum ties directly back to the needs of today’s shops.
Strengthening assessment and credentialing
A key milestone has been tightening the alignment between our program and industry-recognized credentials, especially with the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA).
We focused on clarifying assessments across Foundations levels, ensuring that classroom projects support WCA skill standards, and making it easier for schools to integrate WCA Passport opportunities into their programs.
Teacher training: Equipping instructors to succeed
We know that even the best curriculum will fall flat without confident, well-supported instructors. That’s why teacher training was another major emphasis in 2025.
We delivered a multi-day teacher training session that walked instructors through the NWB program from both a curriculum and implementation perspective. We provided an overview of expectations, and we offered deeper dives into the cabinet projects, grading rubrics, and testing processes, so teachers understand why each component matters.
Instructors consistently told us that having a clear, industry-backed roadmap gave them renewed confidence in growing or even rebuilding their programs.
Industry partnerships & workforce development
NWB exists at the intersection of education and industry, and 2025 was a year of strengthening that connection. We continued to cultivate partnerships with employers, as well as increased collaboration with organizations, including the Wood Industry Association (WIA), North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA), Cabinet Makers Association (CMA), and the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals (ACSP).
We want to ensure the curriculum reflects the realities of shops of all sizes and specialties.
Expanding geographic reach
NWB programs in 2025 moved from a small cluster of early adopters to a growing network of schools and training providers across multiple states.
Interest came from high schools looking to modernize or revitalize traditional shop classes, career and technical education (CTE) centers seeking structured, industry-vetted curriculum, as well as adult and second-chance programs that want to provide hands-on training linked to real jobs.
2026: Scale, support, and sustainability
In 2026 the program is about intentional growth. First is scaling the NWB program nationally as we continue to onboard new schools and training centers. Emphasis is on states and regions with strong concentrations of woodworking, cabinet, and millwork employers. We’re also looking at programs that have community and industry backing but need a structured curriculum to fully realize their potential.
The plan is to build regional clusters, where multiple schools in a geographic area can share resources, industry partners, and success stories
Second is deepening WCA integration. We are working closely with the WCA to make it even easier for schools to integrate skill standards, use NWB projects as checkpoints for WCA Passport achievements, and to prepare students for credentials that employers recognize and value.
Third, we are strengthening teacher support and community. In 2026, we plan to expand teacher training opportunities, grow the peer community of instructors, and increase access to implementation tools such as scope-and-sequence guides, sample schedules, and communication templates for talking with administrators and parents.
Fourth, we are building clearer pathways for students by encouraging stronger links between high school and post-secondary programs incorporating the NWB program. We’re also helping schools showcase career pathways into cabinetmaking, millwork, closets, store fixtures, architectural fabrication, and related fields. Additionally, we are gathering and sharing student success stories that demonstrate the power of a woodworking education backed by industry.
Fifth, we are growing funding and sponsorship support. To do that we are actively engaging industry sponsors who recognize that investing in education today addresses tomorrow’s workforce shortages. We are reaching out to foundations and donors aligned with career and technical education, trades training, and workforce development. We’re also seeking partners who can support scholarships, equipment, and teacher training.
How you can get involved
NWB would love to partner with you. You can financially support the program. You can help connect us with schools or training centers in your area. You can serve on a local advisory committee. You can host tours, student visits, or teacher externships at your facility.
Thank you to everyone who contributed time, resources, and expertise in 2025. We’re proud of what we’ve built together, and we’re just getting started.
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