When John Pfeffer started at OSTS 2021, he was a newcomer to the safety training field. Unknowingly to him, his innate ability to connect with people would become a significant asset in his teaching career.
“Connecting with people turned out to be a much bigger part of the job than I initially realized. Once I understood that, everything just fell into place,” he said.
John’s passion for acting and performing on stage made his transition into teaching smoother. He already enjoyed being in front of people and engaging them through conversation.
“I was fortunate to have a great mentor director,” John explained. “He just understood that not all of us would become famous actors on TV, but you can learn a lot from communicating effectively.”
His stage experience taught him how to command attention, even when the audience’s focus wavered. “As an actor, my favorite challenge is ensuring that person hears me, and this skill translates well into teaching,” John noted.
One of John’s favorite parts of teaching is meeting a variety of people. “They all offer different perspectives. Some are newcomers, some are veterans, some are entering, and some are exiting the field,” he said. “It’s fascinating to see the same subject through different lenses.”
Among the many course subjects John teaches, including CPR/first aid and heat illness prevention, traffic control is his favorite. His frequent exposure to different traffic setups while driving constantly challenges him to think critically. “It stands out when it’s done well or poorly. That’s the intriguing part—understanding why it works or doesn’t. Teaching this class repeatedly gives me insight into numerous perspectives,” he explained.
Ultimately, John emphasizes the shared goal in traffic control: ensuring everyone gets home safely. “That’s the best part—no matter where someone is coming from, we’re all on the same page with that goal.”
John began learning traffic control from OSTS safety instructor, Wende Wylie. “I observed how she approached the class and enjoyed incorporating that element into my own style,” he remarked. Their shared use of humor in teaching helps them connect well, ensuring they neither mislead the class nor steer it off course. “Humor really helps emphasize the point, and she excels at that,” John added.
John acknowledges the complexity of traffic control and the importance of humor in keeping students engaged. “It’s such a dense topic; humor prevents losing the audience’s attention,” he noted.
Looking ahead, John plans to teach Caltrans Traffic Control and Trenching.
