Meet Our Woodwork Teacher – Craig Jordan!

March 12, 2025

At the heart of our woodwork program is Craig Jordan, a passionate Design & Technology teacher with over two decades of experience. We spoke with Craig to learn more about his journey, his teaching philosophy, and why he loves introducing students to the art of woodworking.

A Journey from Metal to Wood

Craig’s fascination with making things started in high school, where he developed a love for jewellery, metalwork, and all things mechanical. However, he never had the chance to study woodwork during his school years. After working as an automotive parts interpreter, he realised how much he enjoyed helping customers understand and repair their own vehicles. This passion for teaching led him to pursue a Design & Technology teaching degree.

Though Craig initially expected to specialise in automotive studies, everything changed when he took a woodworking course in his first semester. He immediately fell in love with the material and the creativity it allowed. Determined to master the craft, he spent the next four years working with wood as much as possible, setting him on the path to becoming a dedicated woodwork teacher.

Teaching at Santa Maria College

Craig has been a Design & Technology teacher for 21 years. He is in his second year at Santa Maria College (SMC). His early career primarily involved teaching metalwork, as many experienced woodwork teachers at the time were former tradesmen who had transitioned to teaching. This meant limited opportunities for new graduates like Craig to teach woodwork. However, he eagerly took every opportunity to learn from his colleagues, refining his skills over the years.

Craig credits much of his knowledge to the inspiring woodworkers he has worked with throughout his career, and he is now excited to share that expertise with his students at SMC.

Teaching Girls vs Boys in the Workshop

Before joining Santa Maria, Craig spent 15 years teaching boys. Moving to an all-girls environment was a rare and exciting opportunity for a woodwork teacher.

Craig shared, “Girls are much calmer in their approach to the workshop and tend to spend more time making sure that everything is ok before moving on.” They are slightly more reserved when trying out new tools and machines. The result is a less frantic and more measured workshop environment.

Craig’s perspective on teaching has evolved. “I see my role as a teacher different now. Where I felt I was previously setting boys up with skills that would help them be tradesmen, I now see my role as setting up girls to be confident to pick up tools, to know how to use them safely, and to teach girls practical skills which will hopefully stay with them and help them in their future lives.” He hopes that by introducing them to woodworking, he can inspire more young women to explore careers in trades.

Life Outside the Workshop

When he’s not teaching or working on his own woodworking projects, Craig stays busy with his young children: a six-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter. He’s also a car enthusiast and has spent years restoring his 1963 Austin Healey Sprite. Home renovations and furniture-making projects are constants in his life, reflecting his love for craftsmanship in all forms.

A Favourite Project

Among his many woodworking creations, Craig’s favourite is a beautiful Marri River table he made a few years ago. He found a stunning piece of natural-edge timber and crafted the entire frame from the same tree. The table, with its intricate design and absence of straight edges, challenged his skills and required him to problem-solve throughout the process. The result was a truly unique piece that he is incredibly proud of.

We’re grateful to have such a dedicated and passionate educator at Santa Maria and we can’t wait to see the incredible projects his students create under his guidance.

CraigJordan, Design&Technology, Featured, StaffSpotlight, WoodworkTeacher

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.