Teacher of the Year highlights girls‑only welding program that funnels students into apprenticeships

Pete Daley, Alaska’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, presented a 10‑minute overview March 9 to the House Education Committee of a targeted program that recruits and trains girls in welding.

Daley told the committee the program began after a 2022 professional development course and was designed to boost female participation in welding by focusing on approachable processes (gas‑metal arc welding, plasma cutting and stick welding) to build confidence. “We started with wire to get confidence,” Daley said, describing a curriculum that moves from easier to more advanced processes and includes certification testing when students meet code criteria.

The program emphasizes industry connections. Daley described classroom visits from young tradespeople and partners such as Alaska Works Partnership and Fort Knox that make career pathways visible to students. He detailed community fabrication projects — bike racks and planters placed across Fairbanks and the city of North Pole — that both teach fabrication skills and provide tangible community value.

Students who appeared with Daley gave firsthand accounts. Erica Lopez said she tried the program as a senior and “learned more than I would have been here,” while Gracie Davis said the all‑female class created peer support and leadership opportunities. Daley noted former students have entered apprenticeships and local industry jobs; he cited one former student now in the plumbers and pipefitters union and another working in the North Slope oil sector.

Committee members asked about barriers to expansion. Daley said the program is limited by shop space, equipment and startup funding; he said demand outstrips capacity and that community partners have helped fund projects and equipment. Representative Elam pressed on operational challenges and Daley pointed to funding and logistics as the primary constraints.

Daley closed by noting the program’s certification outcomes: students who follow the welding procedure, complete guided tests and meet code criteria can earn welder certification, facilitating direct entry into the workforce or apprenticeships.

The committee applauded the presentation and thanked Daley for the demonstration of how targeted CTE programs can both engage students and connect them to local employers.