Author: Hattie Redmon

At Jackson, our work in the K-12 school sector is more than construction, it’s about shaping the environments where students learn, teachers teach, and communities gather. For over two decades, we’ve partnered with school districts across Montana and beyond, delivering projects that empower students, support educators, and strengthen communities. With more than 40 K-12 projects completed, totaling over $370 million and 2.6 million square feet—we’ve built a reputation for reliability, quality, and care. And through it all, we’ve never missed a first day of school.

Projects That Make a Difference

Our experience spans new builds, complex renovations, and major additions. A few highlights illustrate the scope and impact of our work:

• Lolo School – After nearly a decade of planning, bond initiatives, and design refinements, we delivered an 83,000-square-foot K-8 school with classrooms, gyms, playgrounds, and more. Pandemic-era supply chain challenges were met with proactive preconstruction planning, smart material storage, and self-performed work, ensuring the school opened on time and on budget.
• Lone Peak High School – In Big Sky, Montana, we transformed the campus in phases, adding a gym, locker rooms, a STEAM building, and upgrades to classrooms and athletic facilities. Keeping the school operational during construction required careful coordination, creative problem-solving, and close collaboration with local trades—resulting in over 60,000 square feet of new and renovated space delivered safely and on budget.
• Walla Walla High School – Across a sprawling 60-acre campus, we upgraded nearly 250,000 square feet, including a new science building, major additions, and improvements to key facilities. Detailed scheduling, phased construction, and strong teamwork ensured minimal disruption while delivering a modern, high-quality learning environment.
• Hellgate High School – A multi-phase renovation of a historic 238,000-square-foot campus kept 1,300 students safe and learning throughout construction. Upgrades included mechanical and electrical systems, a new kitchen and library, and seismic improvements, all delivered on time and within budget.

“Throughout the entirety of this project, Jackson demonstrated the highest level of trust, transparency, and quality in their service. Their ability to establish and maintain meaningful relationships with our administration, teachers, and students paved the way for a very successful experience.”

Nate Lant, Hamilton School District

Student Engagement and Hands-On Learning

One of the most rewarding aspects of our K-12 work is watching students engage with construction. Through high school apprenticeship programs, students gain hands-on experience, learning trade skills while contributing to the very schools they attend. They watch foundations rise, steel beams set, and classrooms take shape, transforming construction sites into living classrooms.

A Ripple Effect in the Community

Building schools isn’t just about the buildings themselves. These projects strengthen communities, create safe and inspiring spaces, and foster pride for generations to come. Every project is a chance to give back, to invest in the future, to leave a lasting legacy, and to build environments that truly matter.

Looking Ahead

As we continue our work in K-12 schools, we remain committed to safety, quality, and collaboration. We’ll keep creating spaces that empower students and educators, inspire communities, and support the next generation of construction talent. Because when we build schools, we’re not just building walls, we’re building the foundation for stronger futures.

At Jackson, we believe that the heart of every project is our craft, the skilled laborers, carpenters, and operators who turn blueprints into reality. These are the hands and minds behind the structures that shape communities and make great things possible.

When we build a school, we create a space for the next generation to learn. When we build a hospital, we make healing possible. When we construct a laboratory, we enable breakthroughs in treatments and cures. For our craft, there’s nothing like driving past a completed project and knowing you helped make it happen—something that will serve people for years to come.

Self-Performing: Building With Our Own Hands

Being true builders means putting our own team on the work every day. With over 90 craftspeople, we self-perform a wide range of scopes, ensuring quality, consistency, and value. Self-performing work gives us greater control, cost savings, schedule certainty, and peace of mind for our clients, while giving our crew ownership of the final product.

Growth, Clarity, and Opportunity

Our craft culture is built on clarity and opportunity. We’ve defined core positions (Laborer, Carpenter, and Foreman) so every team member knows what’s expected and how to grow. Responsibilities, skills, and performance metrics provide a clear roadmap for advancement, fair evaluations, and continuous improvement.

Foremen and Superintendents are the backbone of every project team, and we invest in their leadership. Hands-on training programs cover everything from safety and scheduling to quality control and team leadership. Superintendents also engage in NCCER programs, equipping them to guide projects and deliver exceptional results.

Investing in the Next Generation

The construction industry faces a workforce crisis. An aging workforce, declining enrollment in trade schools, and negative perceptions of construction have made it harder to attract new talent. That’s why Jackson is committed to promoting construction as a rewarding, stable career.

Through apprenticeships, internships, and workforce development, we’re investing in the next generation of craftspeople. Our carpentry apprenticeship program, developed with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry and NCCER, provides hands-on experience and structured training. High school Junior Apprentices get a head start on a career, learning the trade and gaining real-world skills.

We also bring the trades directly to the classroom. Through programs like Missoula Under Construction, we invite students to experience hands-on construction activities, from building popsicle-stick bridges to generating electricity from potatoes. By making learning interactive and fun, we hope to spark curiosity and show the possibilities a career in construction can offer.

A Culture of Retention and Pride

We’re proud of the longevity of our team. The average tenure of our craft is over 5.5 years, well above the industry average of 3.9. That retention reflects how we care for our people, not just on the jobsite but in all aspects of life. Many craftspeople have built entire careers at Jackson, mentoring others and sharing their knowledge along the way.

Our supervisors and leaders, like Field Operations Manager Grayson Lukasik, Superintendent Saul McMeekin, Project Manager Cody Frey, and Superintendent Darren Stocker to name just a few, started in the field and worked their way up, proving that growth and advancement are real possibilities here. From craft to leadership, every step in our organization reflects dedication, skill, and pride.

The Future of Our Craft

We’re committed to preserving the craftsmanship that defines our industry while expanding our capabilities through self-perform work, workforce development, and upward mobility opportunities. Our people are the foundation of everything we do, and the future is bright because of them.

To every craftsperson at Jackson—thank you. Your skill, your dedication, and your pride make all the difference. You make it possible.