Sprague’s training props extend beyond district, state

Earlier this year District 6 Training Specialist Josh Sprague introduced an innovation to improve the training the ITD provided to flaggers. The utilization of props to help simulate and develop traffic-control scenarios and appropriate responses really took off.

Sprague traveled to Boise in late summer and conducted an interview with KIVI television while he was here. At that point, he had been using them for about six months in District 6.

“District 5 was the second location that incorporated it into the flagging training. District 3 pick it up and District 4 came on quickly behind them. The Transporter article helped with the final push to get a set of props up to Districts 1 and 2.”

AASHTO re-ran the Transporter article, and the story went national.

Vermont DOT saw the article and liked the idea. ITD Training & Development was also asked to bring a set of the training props to the National Transportation Training Directors conference in Seattle.

“It is exciting to see this innovation used across the state now, and it is amazing that it has been discussed nationally,” said Sprague. “But that is nothing compared to seeing someone in the classroom finally comprehend the safety ideas being taught because of these props. To see the light bulb go on, and to know you had something to do with it, is truly special.”

This effort reinforces one of the main truths of Innovate ITD, that it does not have to be a monumental, life-altering idea to be worthwhile:

“Innovation does not need to be a huge change — many times, it’s the little changes to make your job better that have the greatest impact.”

Published 12-06-19