The success of the Tiny House project at the three participating local high schools—Dos Pueblos, San Marcos and Santa Barbara—falls significantly on the shoulders of two instructors—Caleb Chadwick at Santa Barbara High and Chris Mollkoy at Dos Pueblos. Caleb teaches in both the construction and the Academy for Success programs.

Eighty-nine of Caleb’s students have made significant progress toward the completion of their Tiny House, and we recently had the opportunity to visit with him and view the construction site. It’s impressive. As the photos depict, walls have been framed and attached to the trailer base, while other work continues in the classroom and will be added sequentially. The pace to continue the house is deliberate and steady, and leading the student team is Project Manager Melissa Perez. Her work is meticulous and her attitude inspiring. 

Many students graduate from high school—and even college—without prospects for a paying job. TRADART, a local nonprofit, was founded by contractors to financially support a construction curriculum at the high school level, including architecture, computer-aided design, interior design, project planning, cost accounting and management. This expanded curriculum is attracting youth, especially girls, to the construction trade and potential careers. Over the past 13 years, TRADART has donated over $20,000 every year to support the secondary schools’ construction trade classes. A teacher who serves on the board of TRADART developed the idea of using the construction of Tiny Houses to teach all the skills necessary for designing and building houses. The houses are mobile, real-life structures, fitted onto an 8’x 20’ transportation trailer, popularized by HGTV.

Enter the Women’s Fund and their grant of $50,000 for the 2016-2017 school year to provide the materials for three Tiny Houses, including typical household appliances, transportation trailers (part of the Tiny House design), solar electricity, solar hot water rooftop collectors, and a portion of the building materials. Best of all, the Women’s Fund grant serves to train 300 to 360 Santa Barbara high school students to build the houses.

The participating three high schools provide a year-round program to design and construct a Tiny House, and each school employs the collaborative approach to teaching and learning. Groups of students, working together, solve problems, complete tasks and create a product. Each of the completed houses will be sold at the conclusion of the school year to provide funding for the following year’s program.

The shop classes provide the base of training for students, and can lead to dual enrollment certificate programs at SBCC, along with the opportunity to obtain a contractor’s license at the completion of a student’s studies. The continuity of secondary-school-skills training with community college achievement can provide opportunities for students to qualify for apprentice programs in the construction trades.

Without question, the Tiny House Project is an ambitious one. Click here to view a flyover of the walls going up. As the construction moves forward, we will bring you further updates on its progress.