8 April 2025 · Karmela Hadjioannou
If the walls of East Brunswick Magnet School could talk, they would tell you about Mr. Mark Eisenbrey, current Machine Fabrication and CNC Technology teacher, 1986 East Brunswick Vocational and Technical High School graduate, and former Adult Education instructor. Mr. Eisenbrey has been associated with the Magnet School District in some capacity since 1982—an impressive 43 years.
His journey in vocational education began in high school, ironically in the exact same room where he teaches today. Back in the late 80's, his career program was called Machine Shop. East Brunswick Vo-Tech was the hot new school in the area, and pursuing a career in the trades was an obvious choice for Eisenbrey. With a grandfather who was a skilled carpenter, a father who was a machinist, uncles who were auto mechanics, and a brother enrolled in the school's Welding program, he was continuing his family's legacy in the trades.
Mr. Eisenbrey recalls his high school experience in Machine Shop as crowded but built on camaraderie. He can still remember the names of 21 of his classmates. The structure was different then—shop classmates were the people you spent the majority of your day with throughout your four years in high school. In addition to hours of shop class, you also attended math class with the same students, with curriculum revolving around trade applications. There was even a class called Related Drawing that focused on reading blueprints of the machines they were working on. The amount of time spent together established strong bonds among classmates.
When Mr. Eisenbrey began in Machine Shop, there was a large influx of funding being put into the career field. Some of the large manual machines he teaches students on today are the same ones he learned on himself—equipment where you must pay close attention to levels and turning dials. Much of this training is now coupled with instruction on the new CNC machines, which perform all the manual adjustments automatically. Today's students are learning both skill sets, and Mr. Eisenbrey proudly notes that during his time teaching the high school program, there has not been a single service call to the manufacturer because everything can be handled in-house by him and his students.
Like all freshmen, Mr. Eisenbrey rotated through various career programs before landing in Machine Shop. He felt most at home there and joined the 9th and 10th grade class of Mr. Seeley, a worldly teacher and Vietnam Army veteran who shared not only his machine knowledge from the Army but also stories about living in the jungle. For 11th and 12th grades, Mr. Eisenbrey studied under Mr. Koval, a man with extensive machine experience. Mr. Eisenbrey recalls his teacher having a wealth of knowledge for every situation—a true expert in his field and an excellent mentor.
Today, Mr. Eisenbrey sees that same spark of interest in the field in some of his students today. Although the demand for machinists has shifted, it remains a lucrative career path. His Machine Fabrication and CNC Technology students receive specialized hands-on training relevant for our time, paired with the fundamental knowledge taught in the 80's. They frequently collaborate with other programs to create tangible products, such as their work with the Construction Maintenance and Design career program to build the Brian Sicknick Memorial that sits in one of the East Brunswick Magnet School courtyards.
Mr. Eisenbrey's class is also known for creating one-of-a-kind centerpieces for the annual Spring Advisory Dinner. Last year, they created a two-foot fixture using techniques, safety skills, and materials from their classroom. This year, they've been asked to create something similar involving all schools within the Magnet School District—we can't wait to see what they develop.
This is an exciting time to be in Mr. Eisenbrey's class. Students are gaining specialized skills that will make them competitive in their field, very similar to the training that made Mr. Eisenbrey an expert in Machine Tool Technology.
Thank you, Mr. Eisenbrey, for your many years teaching the skills you learned in the very same classroom where you now inspire the next generation.
