Welding Pathway Gives Students Real-World Skills and Industry Experience
Spurger ISD’s Welding Pathway offers students a three-year, hands-on journey from having no prior experience to developing job-ready welding skills across multiple industry-standard processes.
Students progress through shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux-core arc welding, and other techniques while working in eight enclosed welding booths designed to mirror real shop environments. Throughout the program, learning is driven by practical application and real projects that reflect the expectations of professional welding environments.
Rather than working only on practice materials, students build and repair functional infrastructure used across the district. Projects have included metal guard rails, bump stops, trailers, grill guards for district vehicles, and repairs to the baseball field bleachers. One current project involves refitting a trailer for scrap-metal haul-off, a solution that will save the district money by reducing reliance on paid pickup services.
The Welding Pathway is taught as a dual-credit course in partnership with Lamar Institute of Technology, allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school. Graduates leave the program with both technical skills and hands-on experience that directly translates to the workforce.
High school graduates entering the welding industry typically see starting salaries ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on location and specialization. In Texas, entry-level welders often earn approximately $23–$25 per hour, with higher wages available in specialized and high-demand areas.
The program is led by an experienced instructor, Jason Bingham, with a strong background in the welding field, bringing years of industry knowledge into the classroom. His real-world experience helps students understand not just how to weld, but how those skills apply on the job site. Students consistently report high engagement in the course, noting that the hands-on nature of the work and the opportunity to build meaningful projects make the class both challenging and rewarding.
As one student shared, the welding program “makes school feel relevant and gives us skills we can use after graduation.”
Spurger ISD’s Welding Pathway reflects the district’s commitment to preparing students for high-demand careers through practical training, industry partnerships, and authentic learning experiences.