Facility Chat with Toby Styron
From his 10-gallon hat to the big, broad smile in his voice, Texas State Technical College instructor Toby Styron speaks happily about his new role teaching Electromechanical Technology to a diverse group of students at his alma mater. It wasn’t that long ago that Toby was a student, and the experience is still fresh and exciting. We spoke during a break preparing for a new semester.
How does teaching compare to being a student?
Toby: It’s a big change from being in the field and its lots of fun. I'm going over the course syllabus and looking over what I'm going to be teaching, scheduling it out, because I want to make sure that it's spread out enough so it's not overwhelming for the students, and we can keep it fluid. And that way, they can absorb more.
What kind of approach are you taking in your teaching style?
Toby: The class is a hybrid of 60% in-class lab work and 40% online with lots of hands-on work which I believe is great for confidence building. We’ll be building circuit boards and even small tanks.
Tell me about the types of students enrolled in your classes.
Toby: In one class, I have 8 students and in another I have 14 students.
I’d describe them as driven young men and women who are interested in exploring the technical side of industry to pursue careers as linemen, in manufacturing firms, the biomedical field. They’re energetic and motivated.
A lot of them were looking at either joining into the trades under as linemen or into the manufacturing. One of them is thinking about going into the biomedical field, where he'll be working on MRI equipment and x-ray equipment, and stuff like that. And they're all very energetic and very, like I said, motivated.
What kinds of careers are likely in their future?
Toby: There are enormous opportunities for graduate students, including working with virtual reality, maintaining circuitry boxes, doing meter reading, and exploring apprenticeships and careers with employers like Tesla and Coca Cola and other manufacturers. There’s no shortage of well-paying jobs nationwide with growth potential.
What do you like to do for fun?
Toby: We have three kids, and we have a farm near Roscoe, Texas. Our oldest child wants to be a pilot. One of our other kids loves anything having to do with trucks and tractors. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do when they grow up. I love writing and reading. Right now, I’ve got The Five Disfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni on my nightstand. For fiction, I like Stephen King and Dean Koontz.
What kinds of advice would you suggest for folks interested in careers in the skilled trades and facility management?
Toby: The best advice that you could ever get is to know a little bit about everything and draw on whatever jobs you’ve done before and what you’ve done in your free time. Look for every opportunity that comes your way to learn something new in every field possible, regardless of if it's tied to where your organization. Even working in the skilled trades, I was always learning about healthcare, construction, and other topics. Also, remember to read both non-fiction and fiction for facts and inspiration.
What gets you the most excited about teaching?
Toby: What gets me up to go teach my classes and also, stands out the most is watching the students grow and bring their own unique skills and experiences. I have experienced that if communicated correctly between instructor and student, the students will effectively tell you what works best for them. Then they quickly learn what you provide and soar to new heights. Watching them get excited to learn a new hands-on skill that will set them up to go out into the field is very motivating and makes me want to try all the harder to prepare them for their next chapter after Texas State Technical College. For me it is like watching the future grow and evolve in real time -- a truly rewarding and fulfilling role I am honored to have.
