Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Racine tech teacher shows girls can do it, too

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kidia Burns has spent her career doing what very few women do.

She's worked in the trades as a machinist for more than two decades.

Now, she's taking her knowledge and skills to Case High School in Racine and showing girls they can do it, too.

"Press X. Now turn the knob," Burns explained, leaning over a student's shoulder.

This is her first year as a tech teacher.

"That's good," she said, as the student set the machine.

But by no means is she new to this work.

"I worked as a CNC machinist for almost 25 years," she said.

She's using that real world experience to introduce a new generation to manufacturing and the trades.

Her passion, inspired by her own mom.

"She was a punch press operator," Burns said. "And I thought, oh my God, my mom is so strong, and I wanted to be just like her."

Now Burns is the one doing the inspiring.

"I like working with my hands," said junior Kylie Haubrich.

Haubrich started learning to weld this year.

"It's a better feeling having a woman teach you how to do it," she said.

She's turned her skills into art. She made a Christmas tree, a snowman and decorative flowers.

Addison Vanscoy is thinking about turning it into her future.

"I just chose welding and I got really into it," Vanscoy, a sophomore, said. "I've actually, since last year, thought about doing welding as a job."

And that's been a big part of Burns' career. She's always encouraging women to think about non-traditional jobs.

"Aw, man, I love those ladies. They get down to business back there on those welders," she said of her students.

At first, Maddie Peltz felt nervous.

"I was scared to do it at first. But then once I did it, it's not as hard as I thought," Peltz said.

Now, she and the other students are in Burns' classroom all the time.

"They come in on their breaks, their lunch breaks, they're in here on my lunch break," Burns said.

Women make up less than 5% of skilled trade workers in the U.S.

But that number is growing. To start introducing those concepts to kids, Burns wrote a book called "Girls Can Do It Too!"

Each page is an introduction to a different skill.

"Girls can do manufacturing," Burns said, flipping the pages, showing tool and die, mechanical engineering and plumbing, to name a few jobs.

It's a lesson her students now know.

"If you do it right, it feels really good to be able to do it," Vanscoy said.

And it's a lesson Burns will keep teaching.

"Working in the trades is not just a man's job anymore. We all can do it. Everybody can do that job," she said.

The book is dedicated to Burns' granddaughter, Neleh, and the illustrations are inspired by her.

To find the book, click here.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].