Donald Sherburne - Welding - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Donald Sherburne

has served as Welding instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center for over a decade. Donnie was introduced to welding and fabrication at age 10, trained in the field, and had formal training through KVVTI. He has been welding for 30 years as a welder fabricator, structural welder, heavy equipment operator, construction specialist, maintenance specialist and millwright.

William Mixer - Welding - Penobscot Job Corps Center

William Mixer

is a Welding instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. He previously worked at Cianbro Corporation for 25 years as a welder, foreman, general foreman and welding instructor. William also worked at Fab Newport for five years. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and following NASCAR and Boston sports teams.

Sherri Sawyer - Certified Medical Assistant - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Sherri Sawyer

is a Certified Medical Assistant instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in health education and organizational management. Prior to coming to Penobscot Job Corps, Sherri worked in many roles in the health care system for 30 years, including 20 years as a phlebotomist and 10 years as a CMA. She enjoys teaching young people and using her experiences to help them understand their roles.

Howard A. Jack Jr. - Advanced Marine Pipefitter - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Howard A. Jack Jr.

is an Advanced Marine Pipefitter instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. He has worked with Penobscot Job Corps for over five years, previously holding the position of career technical training manager. Howard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership. He has served in public education for 26 years as a teacher and administrator, as well as 23 years in the United States Navy on several ships and several other commands. His last three years of military service were at Bath Iron Works attached to the U.S.

Daniel Shorette - Advanced Marine Pipefitting - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Daniel Shorette

is an Advanced Marine Pipefitting instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. He has been a pipefitter for over 15 years and holds a National Center for Construction Education and Research certification in pipefitting. Most of his experience was in the shipbuilding sector and the industrial and petro-chemical sectors. He worked at Bath Iron Works for 10 years and was involved in building nine U.S. Navy destroyers, including all three Zumwalt-class destroyers. He enjoys golf, fishing, hunting and restoring vehicles.

Eric Adams - Academics and Life Skills - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Eric Adams

is a Test of Adult Basic Education Reading instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. He holds an Associate of Arts degree in liberal studies (communications) from Southern Maine Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from University of Southern Maine and a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies with a minor in secondary education from University of Maine at Augusta. Eric earned endorsements in social studies and English/language arts from the Maine Department of Education and brings years of experience teaching at Hampden Academy and Hermon High School.

David Clifford - Academics and Life Skills - Penobscot Job Corps Center

David Clifford

has worked as an Academic High School Diploma instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center since 2010. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education with a mathematics major from the University of Maine in Orono in 2009; and his master’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in curriculum, assessment and instruction in 2016. David’s areas of interest are technology in the classroom and advanced placement programs. 

Kevin Grass- Academics and Life Skills - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Kevin Grass

is an Academic Math instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. He is a United States Army veteran and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in education with a minor in mathematics from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 2012. Kevin has several years of experience as a math teacher and has received positive oral and written feedback from parents regarding his classroom instruction and student learning. To aid in student learning, he developed online videos and coursework to complement the textbook lessons.

Melissa Walls - Academics and Life Skills - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Melissa Walls

is an Academic Test of Adult Basic Education Math instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. She also has worked as a residential counselor and Career Preparation Period instructor. Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in mathematics from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2018.

Brittany Simmons - Academics and Life Skills - Penobscot Job Corps Center

Brittany Simmons

brings 20 years of experience and passion working with children, teens and adults to her role as an Academic High School Diploma and High School Equivalency Certification instructor at Penobscot Job Corps Center. She previously worked for Grafton and Shriver Job Corps Centers in Massachusetts before moving to Maine in 2019. Brittany earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine in 2016 and a license to teach history to grades 8–12 by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.