BOLD Schools' Warrior Repair Inc., snowmobile racing put the 'cool' back in school shop classes

Dec. 9—OLIVIA

— Robert Van Der Hagen considers himself more coach than teacher, but on the shop floor there is no question about what to call him.

He is the boss, addressed always as Mr. Van Der Hagen.

Since he took on the role of industrial arts instructor for the

BOLD Schools

last year, Robert Van Der Hagen has operated the high school's small engine repair, carpentry and welding classes in the same way as you would run a business.

"You're hired to do a job, or you're going to get fired," said Van Der Hagen. Students are expected to succeed and get an A, as there are no B's, C's or D's awarded in these classes.

The customer comes first. Students in the small engine classes will fix virtually everything — from weed whippers to snowmobiles — brought in by district residents, no matter the difficulty.

The coach helps them along, but students learn by doing as part of Warrior Welding or Warrior Repair. It puts the "cool in school," a banner in the shop room in the Olivia school proclaims.

The response from students? A second section of small engine repair had to be added this year to accommodate the swelling enrollment. Students arrive early for school to spend time in the shop. Others wolf down their lunch in record time for the chance to tinker on their projects during their break time.

Superintendent Jim Menton said there is no question about the effectiveness of Van Der Hagen's approach. Students who otherwise had little enthusiasm for school, or industrial arts for that matter, are now fully engaged.

The response from the community to all of this? Van Der Hagen estimates that roughly $40,000 worth of tools and equipment have been donated to the program from residents in the district that serves the communities of Bird Island, Lake Lillian and Olivia. "Incredibly generous," he said.

It's getting attention well behind the district boundaries too, including a feature on

Fox 9 television

. It's not just because of what happens inside the school walls.

Come the cold, blustery days of winter, Van Der Hagen is also coach for the school's "

Black Max Racing

" team. This year, selected students will be racing five snowmobiles that they maintain and drive in competitive drag races. Last year's students brought home 22 trophies for first- and second-place finishes — and also gained offers of support and encouragement from snowmobile racers from all over.

BOLD is believed to be the only school district sponsoring a competitive snowmobile racing program.

"When Mr. Menton came to the first race nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs, he didn't know what to expect," Van Der Hagen said with a laugh.

The superintendent had unwittingly set himself up for this.

Van Der Hagen came to his role after more than 30 years in business. He sold his NAPA stores in Olivia, Renville and Hector in 2021 after 17 years of ownership. He has a four-year degree in psychology, which he said has come in handy in the classroom.

But he had no real thoughts of becoming an industrial arts instructor when Menton ran into him at a high school graduation party. When Menton mentioned the school was looking for an industrial arts instructor, all eyes turned to Van der Hagen.

The superintendent had another card to play. "We figured we could entice him if we could include snowmobiles somehow," said Menton. He was well aware of Van Der Hagen's passion for racing the machines.

"Our attorneys absolutely hated the idea," Menton said.

But he watched the races and said he realized there was more of a perceived danger than a real one; there was certainly less risk of harm than student athletes face in contact sports.

And like Van Der Hagen, the superintendent realized the value that competition provided the students. It motivates and teaches life lessons. Now, he'd like the Minnesota State High School League to support snowmobile racing for students. "It opens all kinds of avenues (for students)," he explained.

Van Der Hagen knew all of this coming into the industrial arts program. What he had to figure out was his curriculum.

He turned to the pros. He visited with electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other business people in the district and asked a simple question: What would his student need to learn to be hired?

His role is to make sure the students master it all completely. In welding, every student must accomplish 10 different welding techniques, no exceptions. He coaches them along until they do.

Expectations are high, both for what students must master and the discipline, he admits. "I run a tight ship," he said.

If he comes across as a gruff, classroom version of the late Vikings coach Bud Grant, it's because he also dispenses some of a coach's wisdom about what it takes to win. Some of his idioms include "shortcuts show up on race day," and "walk down the hall like you're late for a meeting."

He even instructs students on how to shake hands when they arrive for a job interview. "You have to be prepared to make a positive first impression every minute of the day," he explained.

While at age 57 he's come to teaching relatively late in his career life, he now knows its rewards.

"I get to see that light turn on, the light bulb moment. I get to see that glow that they get when they achieve something they never thought that they could do. I get to see that every day," he said.

When he went to a graduation party last year, students came down the driveway for the chance to shake his hand as he approached the house.

Menton only wishes that others who have business experience like Van Der Hagen would consider becoming teachers. The pay may not match what they are earning in the private sector, but the rewards that come with making a difference in the lives of young people are so great, he explained.