Williams News Logo
Grand Canyon News Logo

Trusted local news leader for Williams AZ and the Grand Canyon

Designing for the future: Williams High School technical education programs providing skills for careers, college and beyond

Williams High School welding Career Technical Education (CTE) students work on their arc welding technique March 24. Wendy Howell/WGCN

Williams High School welding Career Technical Education (CTE) students work on their arc welding technique March 24. Wendy Howell/WGCN

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Before Williams students cross the stage to accept their high school diplomas, many of them may already have college credits to show potential employers.

The Williams High School (WHS) career and technical programs are giving many students a foot up with classes in welding, construction, law enforcement and culinary arts. Some of them for dual college credit.

"My class is aligned with Coconino Community College welding programs," said WHS welding instructor Steve Schober. "Williams students can earn three college credits per year in my classes."

Schober is in his second year as the welding instructor at the high school. He teaches Welding I and Welding II at the high school. According to WHS Principal Rick Honsinger, Schober's classes are in demand.

"His classes have become very popular," Honsinger said.

Schober said he and Honsinger have even discussed the possibility of expanding the program next year to offer a Welding III class. Anyone who completes Welding I and Welding II would be eligible for the class with instructor approval.

According to Schober, the Welding I class introduces students to basic arc welding procedures, equipment and safety techniques. They learn various arc welding tasks in the flat, horizontal, vertical-up and overhead positions. They also learn basic cutting and oxy fuel techniques.

Students in the Welding II class learn more advanced arc welding procedures and techniques. They receive instruction in the selection of electrode, gas, cups and filler rod for gas tungsten arc welding. They also learn techniques and practice in welding butt-joint, t-joint, lap and corner joints and numerous cutting procedures.

Schober plans to teach students about stainless steel welding, aluminum welding and other advanced techniques in the Welding III class.

"Once they complete that course they will have an opportunity to get AWS (American Welding Society) certified," Schober said. "When they pass the test they will be a certified welder."

Schober took a group of students to the Skills USA competition in Phoenix March 30. None of the welding students placed at the event although Schober was encouraged with the students' efforts.

"We were as good as 70 to 80 percent of all the schools that were down there," Schober said. "It was an excellent experience. Next year I'll know more what to do with the kids. I plan on coming back with a medal next year."

Schober has been spending a lot of time developing the welding program at the high school over the past two years. When he took over the program in 2015, the entire welding/auto shop building had been deemed unsafe for occupancy and needed significant repairs.

The program received a grant in the spring and Schober began repairs in the summer.

"I tore the shop apart myself," Schober said. "And with help we put in ventilation systems, plumbed in gas lines, redid all the electrical and fabricated locations for all the new welders."

Schober said during the first semester of the 2015-2016 school year, the welding classes completed the finish work on the benches and stations to make the welding shop functional. With the students help, the building was brought back up to code and the classes moved back into the building.

"It's a great shop now," Schober said. "It was in really poor shape before."

Schober not only runs the welding programs at the high school, but he is also the transportation director for the Williams school district and teaches college courses two days a week at Coconino Community College.

"I teach two welding classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights," Schober said. "It's been a great resource for me to have the experience with the older college kids. I think that helps me teach these (high school) classes."

Schober hopes the high school students can get involved with projects around town next year.

"It would be great experience for the kids to actually weld projects in the community," Schober said.

Schober said they are grateful for any donations to the program whether materials or money.

"We always need scrap metals, steel, stainless steel, aluminum or other good quality materials," Schober said. "We also need to purchase gasses and safety supplies too."


Donate Report a Typo Contact